Kerry’s glamping pods given widespread approval in towns and villages but not in rural areas

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

Of 20 applications in rural areas since 2022, only four were approved, an investigation byThe Kerryman has revealed.

Kerry councillors have raised concerns previously about the lack of support for rural tourism, citing restrictive planning policies for developments outside of settlement areas.

A council planning objective at the heart of the issue states that the council will “support the development of appropriately scaled” camping/glamping, campervan and caravan type accommodation located “within/or adjacent to existing settlements, established tourism assets or adjacent to a main farmyard complex on suitable sites”.

Analysis found that only four of the 20 applications in rural areas were approved since 2022, while every application within an urban settlement received a favourable decision. Half of the rejections of rural applications included the justification that the proposed site was outside any settlement.

These eight applications constuted a total of 32 potential glamping pods, with only one of these applications recieving an official public objection.

Other reasons for rejection included concerns about the disposal of wastewater at sites and objections from Transport Infrastructure Ireland, referencing potential traffic issues for developments with entrances onto at national secondary road.

A further five applications were deemed incomplete or withdrawn, while all seven applications within an urban settlement were approved, granting the construction of a total of 41 pods.

At a council meeting last month, the planning directors confirmed they looked at applications for alternative tourism accommodation types on a case-by-case basis, against a range of criteria, but ceded that it was generally more difficult to get planning permission outside settlement boundaries.

Dingle-based Councillor Brosnan shot back that the council had ‘admitted’ there was a ‘slim to none chance’ of getting permission if the land wasn’t already incorporated into the council’s land zoning map

“We need to give clarity to people who are applying for tourism planning permission for tourism-related and badly needed amenities outside settlements,” he said.

“It is virtually impossible to get planning outside settlement boundaries,” added Councillor Jackie Healy-Rae.

“Our county development plan does not support tourism…we want there to be a possibility within this plan that we are open to a case-by-case basis.”

Kerry County Council replied that the policy as it stands did support rural tourism but was concerned over whether supporting infrastructure like wastewater services would be built and operated successfully.

They said they had discussed the issue internally and would potentially reconsider planning rules.