Guidance on temporary pop-up campsites

National Park-wide Article 4 Direction: Temporary Recreational Campsites

Article 4 Direction confirmed (February 2024)

On 12 February 2024, the New Forest National Park Authority confirmed an immediate, National Park-wide Article 4 Direction in response to changes to national permitted development rights introduced by the Government in summer 2023.

This Article 4 Direction removes permitted development rights under Class BC of Part 4, Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development) (England) Order across the entire New Forest National Park.

As a result, planning permission is required for the use of land as a temporary recreational campsite, unless both of the following criteria are met:

• The land was first used as a temporary recreational campsite before 1 March 2020; and

• The use of the land as a temporary recreational campsite is for no more than 28 days in total in any calendar year.

Where either of these criteria is not met, permitted development rights do not apply and a planning application is required.

Public consultation

The Authority consulted on the proposed Article 4 Direction between 27 October and 1 December 2023. All representations received during this period were carefully considered before the Direction was confirmed.

The majority of responses supported the introduction of the Article 4 Direction, recognising its role in helping to:

• Safeguard the amenity of local communities

• Protect the landscape character of the National Park

• Conserve internationally designated habitats within the New Forest

Documents and guidance

• The confirmed Article 4 Direction and accompanying plan are available to view via links on the right of this page.

• We have also published planning guidance to help inform future applications for new and larger campsites. This guidance can be viewed and downloaded using the links.

Background: Use of Article 4 Directions in the New Forest

The New Forest National Park Authority’s adopted Local Plan (2019) confirmed that consideration would be given to the use of Article 4 Directions to ensure that temporary campsites are appropriately planned and managed.

An Article 4 Direction removes specific permitted development rights, meaning that certain types of development can no longer proceed without planning permission. This allows the Authority to assess proposals in detail and ensure they are compatible with the special qualities of the National Park.

Earlier National Park-wide Article 4 Direction (Classes B and BA)

Introduced in 2022

In March 2021, the Authority resolved to make a non-immediate, National Park-wide Article 4 Direction to remove permitted development rights under Classes B and BA of Part 4, Schedule 2 of the Permitted Development Order.

This decision followed growing concerns about:

• The increasing number of temporary campsites

• Impacts on local communities

• Effects on the wider landscape and sensitive habitats of the New Forest

In March 2022, the Authority agreed that this Article 4 Direction would come into effect on 30 September 2022.

What this means

The 2022 Article 4 Direction requires planning permission for the following types of development within the New Forest National Park:

• All new temporary campsites established on or after 1 March 2020, regardless of size; and

• Existing temporary campsites established before 1 March 2020 that have more than 50 pitches.

Together with the 2024 Article 4 Direction, these measures ensure that temporary camping uses are carefully managed to protect the unique landscape, wildlife and communities of the New Forest National Park.