Couple moving to England over campsite rules

A couple are giving up on their dream of running a pop-up campsite and petting farm and moving to England due to planning rules.

Luke Haworth and Samantha Fielding said they were "devastated" to put their Anglesey home and smallholding on the market.

They said changes to planning rules meant they could only run their campsite for 28 days this year, while in England it is 60 days.

The Welsh government said there was a "fine balance" between providing landowners flexibility and protecting local amenities and the environment.

The couple moved to the two hectare Tŷ Bugail smallholding near Cemaes during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.

At the time, rules allowing pop-up campsites to operate in Wales without planning permission were relaxed, with landowners given 56 days.

But this year has seen the rules in Wales, called Permitted Development Rights, revert back to pre-Covid limits of 28 days which "basically crippled us," said Mr Haworth.

"We simply can't make ends meet. If they can do it in England for 60 days, then what is the difference in doing it here?"

The couple argued that the decision made little economic sense.

"The vast majority of our campers will use the amenities, will use all the local restaurants," said Ms Fielding.

"Even the local shop, for example, they've had to increase the stock that they have during the summer season because of people using the shops - which can only be good - surely?"

They both said selling-up was a last resort but felt "driven out" and had "no choice".

They said the decision was made even harder because they have four sons who have been born in Wales, speak Welsh, and are in school.

The campsite booking website Pitchup.com has been lobbying the Welsh government to extend the rules on permitted development for pop-up campsites

Founder Dan Yates said the situation in Wales was "appalling."

"This is an example of how government policy and government failures can have devastating impacts on people’s lives and families," he added.

Figures from Pitchup.com show that 34% of holidays in Wales involve camping or caravanning compared to just 20% in England and 21% in Scotland. 

Wales is also the most popular place in the UK to camp, according to Pitchup.com’s 2023 figures.

"Pop-up camping is really the only type of accommodation that doesn’t compete with residential housing used for holidays - that can still bring in that economic benefit without disrupting the local community too much," said Mr Yates.

The couple also tried to get permanent planning permission for the campsite, but this has been rejected by Anglesey council.

Planning officers said the proposed site was not suitable for traffic access, would be an "isolated and unsustainable" development in open countryside, as well as be a noise nuisance for neighbours - all issues disputed by the couple.

The council has issued the couple with enforcement notices about the campsite, relating to temporary buildings used during pop-up camping events.

Officials said they had made "repeated offers" to meet the couple in a "meaningful effort to resolve matters", which both Mr Haworth and Ms Fielding said they disagreed with.

A petition calling for a rethink on the 28-day rule is now being considered by politicians in the Senedd.

The Welsh government said: "The requirement for planning permission does not represent a barrier to the use of land for temporary alternative purposes, such as pop-up camping, where the planning impacts are acceptable.”