New campsite controls confirmed for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Temporary 28-day sites to require planning permission from 2026
THE PEMBROKESHIRE COAST NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY has approved new planning controls that will remove the automatic right to operate temporary 28-day campsites from 1 January 2026.
At a meeting on Wednesday (May 7), members voted to introduce an Article 4(1) Direction following months of public consultation and growing concerns over the impact of unregulated camping on protected landscapes, biodiversity, and rural communities.
What's changing?
Currently, landowners can host temporary campsites, caravan pitches or mobile homes for up to 28 days a year without planning permission. From 2026, this right will be withdrawn within the National Park, and landowners must apply for planning consent.
The Authority has pledged to support applicants by offering:
No planning application fees
A free pre-application advice service
Priority handling of relevant applications
The move aims to tackle visual intrusion, ecological harm, and noise linked to short-term pop-up sites.
What the rules don't affect
A clarification issued in March confirmed that the Direction does not apply to:
Temporary car parks, mobile saunas, or filming activities
Sites operating under exemption certificates
Camping that is clearly ancillary to permitted temporary events—such as festivals, weddings, agricultural shows or film shoots
To determine if camping qualifies as 'ancillary,' the Authority will consider the event's licensing, advertising, how much of the site is used for camping, and the duration of the event.
Festival concerns addressed
Earlier concerns were raised by festival organisers about the potential impact on events.
Amber Lort-Phillips, founder of The Big Retreat wellbeing festival in Lawrenny, previously said the event's future in Pembrokeshire was under threat:
'We might have to move it. It's not fair. Our permitted development is how we run the campsite.'
However, following the Authority's clarification that festivals with ancillary camping are exempt, these concerns have now been address.
The Big Retreat, a four-day event drawing thousands of visitors and contributing an estimated £1 million to the local economy, is likely to remain unaffected under the clarified rules.
Joe Worley, organiser of Westival in Manorbier, also raised concerns: 'The change came as a shock. If we can't get planning permission for the campsite field, the event can't go ahead.'
Fears from rural landowners
Some farmers and landowners fear the new rules will threaten their seasonal income.
Dai Williams of Clifftops Camping near Druidston called the move a 'knee-jerk reaction' to the post-Covid tourism boom.
'This could shut down viable rural businesses that have helped keep farms going during tough seasons,' he said.
Support for tighter regulation
Others welcome the changes. Ben Carden of Woodlands Champions Club, which runs 16 permanent sites in Pembrokeshire, said many temporary campsites operate without adequate facilities.
'I visited one with 200 pitches, three toilets and one sink. That's not acceptable. There needs to be a standard.'
The Authority says temporary campsites currently account for 12% of its enforcement workload.
Next steps and voluntary Code
The National Park Authority has committed to working with exempted organisations to create a voluntary Code of Conduct, ensuring high standards across all camping activity.
The Article 4(1) Direction comes into force on 1 January 2026, giving landowners time to prepare and submit applications ahead of the next camping season.
Further details and the full clarification are available at:
www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/public-consultations
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