Planning
Supporting your journey with our strategic partner
Unrivalled planning support and advice
Clear sky has always provided as much help as we can around the planning process across the UK with free planning scale drawings, advice and help in finding local planning consultants.
Now, taking this service to the next level, we are proud to announce a strategic partnership with one of the leading teams in this area of the glamping journey.
Rural Planning specialises in providing a holistic approach to your planning needs and has some very successful schemes already agreed across the country. You can be assured of the Clear Sky brand of quality and the most professional approach possible from this exciting new partnership.
Key Questions
Will I get permission for Glamping / Camping?
The big question. The simple answer of course being … it depends.
At a national level, proposals that support the local rural economy are generally supported, and most areas have broad tourism plans that aim to encourage more people to the area.
However, it really comes down to the suitability of your site and the attitude of your council. We’ll set out below the main things to look out for, including the big ‘deal breakers’.
Local designations
Green Belt is the main one here, which can be a ‘deal breaker’. This is a blanket designation around large urban areas to prevent urban sprawl, and there is a presumption against almost all development. Unless you have a very supportive local authority, development in the Green Belt is unlikely to be supported (although not impossible). Other things to look out for which aren’t as serious, but can still complicate things, include AONBs, National Parks, Conservation Areas, SSSI’s, and other natural or ecological matters including flood risk.
“We believe that to maintain the beautiful British landscapes we have, it is vital that people have the opportunity to live and work in the countryside. We love playing a part in helping individuals and businesses overcome the planning hurdles and achieving their goals, in a positive, quality way.
We want to deliver a ‘wow’ technical and customer service every time, in an accessible, staged and transparent structure that all clients feel happy with from the outset.”
Site practicalities
Take a step back and look at the site and the surrounding area; can your proposal really be accommodated without causing any negative impacts? Things to look out for include:
• Siting and design
• Neighbouring residential amenity
• Nearby historic features i.e. listed buildings
• Water management / drainage
• Landscape impact
• Ecology and trees
• Availability of services
• Proximity to public transport
• Any other businesses that can benefit i.e. pub within walking distance
Access / Highways Suitability
This is another potential ‘deal breaker’. If you can’t demonstrate a safe and appropriate access then it’s unlikely the council would support any project which brings additional people to the site, most often by car.
Local Planning Policy
Your local council may have a specific policy on these sorts of projects. Some councils are more supportive than others, or may include detailed requirements - for example, that a new campsite is only acceptable if it forms part of farm diversification. Other councils might be silent altogether, in which case it usually comes down to demonstrating that the benefits outweigh the harm.
Quality of application
As consultants, we would say this… but we really believe there is huge value in submitting a detailed planning application setting out how the development will work and why it should be supported.
How we can help you?
The Rural Planning Co are planning consultants specialising in rural projects, including glamping, tourism, rural commercial, agricultural, equestrian, and residential schemes. We LOVE playing a part in helping people overcome planning hurdles. Contact our friendly team today to book in for a free initial telephone consultation with one of our planning consultants.
At the end of this call we will recommend one of 4 options:
1) Your proposal sounds good - let’s apply for planning permission
2) We need to do some further research into the site specific details
3) Let’s put it to the Local Planning Authority for some feedback
4) We don’t think you’ll be able to get planning consent at this stage
We’ll be honest and upfront with you about what we think the likelihood of success is, and how much we’ll charge. We truly are on your side and will be working as hard as we can to fight your corner.
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Only at
Clear Sky
Our unrivalled experience in the glamping market and relentless pursuit for the ultimate in lodges has led us to develop the best materials and innovations in the world we call these Only at Clear Sky and include:
FSC Certified Frames
Certified wooden frames – Eco friendly FSC Certified pressure treated timber, Certified wind resistance – withstand force 11
Fire Retardant Canvas
Fully fire-retardant canvas to BS7837:1996, 100% Waterproof, Treated against mould, Grade 6 colour fastness, Clear Sky 2 year warranty
Clear Sky PVC Roof
The only roof on the market with Grade 7 colour fastness, 100% waterproof, fire retardant BS7837, Mildew treated
The UK’s strongest certified, ecofriendly safari lodge construction engineered & built to stay up all year round
Rear opening windows for Fire escape and roll up/down 3 layered windows, with mesh, waterproof and privacy panel. *
Our Safari Lodges are all double skinned with an inner canvas beneath the protective PVC roof providing ultimate ventilation and allow the lodges to stay up all year round
Clear Sky Construction
Robust Zips
We use only the best quality YKK Racquet coil zippers with YKK non-locking double sided Coil Sliders covered by canvas rain flaps with Velcro
Windows
Inner Hanging System
Customisable
Our safari lodges are designed and made to the preferences of each specific client, bespoke layouts are designed to your needs
Clear Sky Cares
We created Clear Sky cares to bring together all aspects of the Glamping industry, a unique space where ideas and knowledge is shared between members, in this space you will hear from experts in the industry and have access to amazing complementary marketing assets such as virtual tours, videos and high resolution images you will also receive special prices across all of our product. Giving you everything you need to maximise your ROI no matter what size you are, what experience you have or where you are on your journey
Only at Clear Sky
We are the UK’s most trusted safari lodge provider, the only supplier in the UK to offer fully certified products; every product and raw material is tested by an independent agent. Certified wind resistant, colour fastness, fire retardancy and tear & tensile strengths all come as standard as well as our 1 and 2 year guarantee’s. We also offer unrivalled service and build quality and give you piece of mind with our 100% price match guarantee. That’s why we call it ONLY at Clear Sky.