By William Coleman
Glamping is great fun for all ages no matter what your interests are. Warwick Castle has a special medieval twist where you get transported to the dark ages for an amazing glamping experience. This Warwick glamping experience has now come under threat from a fierce competitor. Despite the new threat from from a heritage organisation the glamping will continue at Warwick Castle.
The Conservation Area Advisory Forum tried to block the introduction of more luxury tents to the site. The new tents would be located on Foxes Field in the grounds of the castle during the summer months, the block would stop this from happening for another five years.
In 2015 the tents were first introduced have been reduced to 43 to 37 with the shower block number also being reduced from six to three. The Advisory Forum, which happen to have Warwick Society and the Warwickshire Gardens Trust amongst its ranks, said they will still have a destructive effect on the nationally and internationally significant Grade 1 registered castle park.
The fear is that the increased activity will actually hard the site, grounds and overall appearance of the castle and its grounds. The combination of the permanent lodges and the detrimental glamping crowds would result in “an over-intensification’ and give a ‘potentially squalid’ appearance of the site.
There has been a lot of work and thought gone into this proposed development. The Warwick District Council planning officers has said that the potential hard to the castle’s heritage assets has been measured against the potential public benefit. After looking into it thoroughly it was concluded that these new glamping lodges ‘would not adversely affect the historic integrity, character or setting of the listed building or the registered park and garden’.
Nick Blofeld, divisional director of Warwick Castle, said:?“We are delighted to be able to continue offering our seasonal glamping accommodation to visitors to the area.
“Our research shows the castle’s overnight visitors actively engage with local businesses through meals, shopping and entertainment, helping the local economy as well as allowing us to invest more in the preservation of the castle.”
On top of this new development the castle is now considering building a hotel on its grounds. If there was this much hooha regarding the introduction of glamping huts I am sure that a hotel proposition will cause a bit of a battle with the locals.
