Unlock your land’s potential with a campsite
8th February 2022
The demand for UK camping holidays has never been higher. With the promise of simpler holidays, surrounded by nature and all the benefits it brings to wellbeing, tens of thousands of families have ensured campsites up and down the country are booked for months in advance.
So, if you own at least half an acre of land, that’s mostly flat and currently underused, this could well be the moment to realise its potential by setting up your own campsite. And with the expert support of The Camping and Caravanning Club, you could be up and running sooner than you think.
How does it work?
The Club supports a nationwide network of over 1,300 Certificated Sites. They’re run by landowners of all types, from farmers to families, who have land to spare. They can be booked by the Club’s 720,000 members, who see exclusive access to Certificated Sites as one of the major benefits of membership. There’s a simple site set up process that starts online.
What about planning permission?
The majority of Certificated Sites don’t require Local Authority planning permission or any form of licence, thanks to the Club’s special exemptions from Natural England. The club will be able to confirm the details when you apply.
Do you need to provide facilities?
Certificated Sites vary from back-to-basics to fully equipped. As a minimum, you’ll need to have a suitable point of entry for camping vehicles, access to running water, a rubbish bin and a chemical disposal point where toilets can be emptied. Many Club members are experienced campers who choose smaller, quieter sites, mainly because they prefer to be self-sufficient.
What support will you get?
The Club promises to be with you from application to opening, with a dedicated team on hand to guide you through the process. As a site owner, you’ll also receive:
- Listings in the online campsite directory SiteSeeker.co.uk and the printed SiteSeeker guide, free to all members
- Marketing support through social media and email campaigns
- A branded site entrance sign
- Annual certification for a change of land use
- Pre-arranged, yearly visits from Club Site Officers
- Plus digital membership of the Club, opening up all benefits, including reduced pitch fees and retail discounts.
How many guests can you have?
Certificated Sites can accommodate up to five caravans or motorhomes and 10 tents at any one time.
How much can you charge?
Setting the pitch fees for your site will always be up to you, but prices tend to start from around £10 per night for the more basic sites. There is no commission to pay – you keep 100% of what you earn.
How do you get started?
Camping & Caravanning says it has made setting up your own campsite as simple as possible. If you think you have a suitable area of land, the next step is to head online and download your application form. With its support you could be welcoming your first guests within weeks!
Chris Scott – Horton Common Certificated Site
My name is Chris Scott, and I am the site manager at Horton Common Certificated Site at Lask Edge Farm. My family have lived at Lask Edge Farm since 1950 and we’re based in the Staffordshire Moorlands on the edge of the Peak District National Park.
Our property is on top of a ridge with fantastic views over the Staffordshire Moorlands and Peak Park. I’ve been caravanning with my parents since I was a child and we contemplated setting up a CS for many years. In 2014 I decided to start the project and secure the relevant planning permissions and consent from the Club. The objective was to share the beautiful views we have with other caravanners, help develop local tourism and generate additional income that can contribute to the running costs of our home.
We wanted to create a unique CS with the best fully serviced pitches possible. The plan was to offer our visitors a site that required them to do very little work in terms of fresh water and waste water maintenance. The objective was to secure repeat visitors to the site for a stable annual income.
When we applied to set up a CS we found the application process very simple; the site officer visited the site and deemed it viable and made our local authority aware of the proposed CS. It’s also worth noting that it’s important to check with your local authority which work does and does not require planning permission. We were surprised to learn that we needed approval from the Highway Authority to slightly widen an existing entrance.
Other than a dedicated cesspit, water and electrical connection, we also set the site entrance back 18m from the road so visitors can pull safely off the road. After our first year operating the site we also installed a road and hard standing pitches to avoid issues with heavy rain over the winter months.
It’s safe to say you can do as much or as little as you like as long as you provide the basic requirements; it’s really up to the individual on how much they want to spend on developing. I also found the site officer visits very useful – not only do they highlight any potential issues but they also run through potential ideas on how to improve the site. I found it helpful talking with someone who has a good knowledge of other CSs and this helped me make a decision on which areas I should and shouldn’t invest money into.
We are really happy with how Horton Common has turned out, we receive great feedback from our guests, and we even won Best CS in 2015, which was voted for by members of the Club. We continue to enjoy running our camping business and the site is relatively low maintenance with mowing once a week and emptying the bins being the most common tasks.
Please go to setupasite.co.uk and follow the easy instructions.
