Glamping not on a farm?

[livingthegoodlife]

I'm thinking about setting up a eco-friendly glampsite but I don't own a farm! It would be on a 3 acre site in a rural area but would you be put off by the fact it isn't on a farm? (And therefore we can't sell you home grown bacon? I would like to do an honesty shop with jams and honey, eggs and maybe bread).

I'm thinking middle level luxury so yurts with your own compost toilet but a proper bathroom with hot showers and flushing toilet up at the stables. Communal barn area with stove and board games, fridge etc.

The site will be off grid with solar power.

I'm concerned that all my competition is based on working farms and would therefore be more appealing.

Please share with me what makes you choose a particular yurt site! Thank you so much.

A (slightly grim) question, how well do compost toilets cope with diarrhoea? Because someone will have it at some point (some of us live with it), and the toilet needs to stay pleasant - also, how many toilets are you going to have?!

A (slightly grim) question, how well do compost toilets cope with diarrhoea?

The sort we have deals with the occasional bowt. Probably better than a normal loo in some respects because it doesn't stink the bathroom out.

Bout, not bowt.

I know the people that run the Orchard Getaway, and it is rural rather than farm. Their big thing is being offgrid, and it works well for them as a model.

Just checking back in. I've arranged to view some land for Friday.

Compost toilets would be one per yurt, I have read they deal very well with diarrhea and don't smell. In addition we would have 2 large family style shower rooms with toilet. Nothing worse than trying to shower toddlers/children without enough space and a secure locking door! Bench for clothes etc.

Off grid would be the premise of our set up too!

I stayed here a few years ago. Glamping still isn’t for me, but the place was lovely and had everything you would need. Also not on a farm.

www.carrshill.co.uk/luxury-tents/

I've stayed in a luxury yurt in a wood nowhere near a farm. It didn't make any difference in fact I prefer not to smell cow poo. The best things were the fire pit, bathroom was private, kids had plenty of room.

your problem is going to be planning permission. It took us 2 1/2 years to get a temporary permit - that was 2 applications, an appeal and a public hearing.
We were told the only way they considered it was because we were a farm, and there were planning rules for farm diversification that could be used within the local plan. You are going to have to apply for change of use of the land.
There will be alot of reports that will need to be prepared - environmental surveys, environmental health, building control as a minimum, as well as buisness plans, site plans, etc. safety, risk assesments, security. Water runoff, how are you dealing with sewage - what about drinking water. This is either going to cost alot of money or take alot of time.
Im not trying to be a killjoy but it may sound like a lovely idea but is going to be quite a challenge to be allowed to do it

you will need clearance from the environment agency to discharge water, and for the composting toilets - where are you planning to take the tanks when they are full or are you going to dig long drops? For commercial premisis that will need permission and they will fill. Composting toilets take quite alot of looking after and you need to be extremely strict about how they are used or they do smell. We have 2 per unit and it has been a steep learning curve on the hoof (not necesarily what you want!!) definately have urine seperaters as that cuts down on small hugely

this is us. we are on a farm but a long way from any animals. we are more woodland based than farming www.glottenham.com
we have been running since 2012

We’ve been to 2, one wasn’t on a farm and one was on a working goat farm. Enjoyed both but DS got badly bitten by insects on the farm

Composting loos are less of an issue than you'd think, as far as permits are concerned. Business plans don't need to be complicated, H&S can be kept common sense (if you restrain your insurer).

A lack of privacy between units could be a deal-breaker for potential customers. You need to work within any planning restrictions, but find work-arounds. Offer to create hedges, rather than ask for visual planting barriers, etc.

Speak to Kev at the www.thesolarshed.co.uk about the off-grid side of things.