How it all works
As an exempt organisation we can certify your land for use by up to 5 caravans, campervans, shepherds huts or similar, for recreational purposes, all year round, without the need for planning permission.
The application process costs £250 and typically takes around 1-2 months and certificates last for 1 year.
After successful annual inspections, further 1 year certificates can be issued.
How We Will Assess Your Application
Your Site:
Although planning permission is not required, our policy is to consult with your Local Planning Authority (LPA) about a site proposal at an early stage and for all applications. This allows the LPA to comment on or object to the plans. Please consider that LPAs have experts in many fields who can look at the proposal in more detail and understand its wider impact, so this should be seen as a worthwhile step and we will consider their opinions both for and against the proposal. We always aim to engage in a proactive conversation and hopefully find a resolution with an LPA should a valid objection be received.
We also consult with your neighbouring properties to get their views and use their comments to understand local sentiment towards the proposal. Again, if any neighbours hold a valid objection, we always look to open a proactive conversation and hopefully find a suitable resolution to their concerns.
How Long It Takes to Become a Wild Red Club Certified Site:
Firstly, a free desktop assessment of your site will be conducted after receiving your application through our form here. This assessment will look at the following and be used to judge the suitability of your proposed site before we start the 21-day LPA and neighbour consultation process. We will review previous planning applications, any Article 4 directions, listed building status, flood zone status, location within a National Park, any designated land status such as an SSSI, Conservation Area, Ramsar site, or ANOB designation, and also nutrient neutrality zones. Sites in some of these areas are possible; however, these areas are more likely to receive an objection from local LPAs or present other issues that prevent us from issuing a site certificate, or we may be able to issue a certificate with additional conditions attached.
After a successful desktop assessment, the £250 application fee is payable and we will then begin the 21-day consultation period by contacting your LPA via email and also your direct neighbours by postal letter. We will also provide a notice to be posted at the entrance to the proposed site asking for local residents’ comments. It is worth noting that the fee is for the application process should it be successful or not, however all successful application receive their 1-year site certification free with the application fee.
After the 21-day consultation period is complete, we will conduct a site visit. Here, we will assess your site against the Club’s requirements in more detail and, if needed, establish a tailored plan to address any gaps that may be present. You may already be established as a site, or it may be a new venture for you; each situation is acceptable to us.
Typically, established sites can become a Wild Red Club certified site within a few weeks, while new sites typically take a little longer. In most cases, the time frame for becoming a certified site depends on how long it takes you to meet the Club’s site requirements and whether you choose to progress these before the outcome of the 21-day consultation period or begin straightaway after application. Also, consider that the consultation process may bring up additional requirements that hadn’t been considered, which may impact how you choose to proceed.
The Club’s Requirements for Becoming Certified:
We have a checklist that we use for site inspections, which will be shared with you. As an introduction, we will be looking at your site access, pitch access and spacing, fire precautions, refuse system, wastewater management process, drinking water source, liability insurance documents and if applicable, your electricity and gas safety certificates. We also need to ensure that site policies exist for fires and BBQs, smoking & vaping, noise, alcohol and animals and that these are effectively communicated to all guests before arrival. There will also be a need to display the Club logo at your site entrance, together with 5 mph speed limit signs and to engage in the Club’s complaints process if needed.
Please note that these do not all have to be established before we visit your site but they do need to be in place before we issue a certificate and we can help with all these points. We just want you to know what we will be looking at and what to expect.
You as an Individual:
We will look for site managers whose values align with the Club's objectives and for people we believe can be effective site stewards and strong advocates for the Club’s objectives.
Site managers will need to agree to all the responsibilities and requirements of the Club’s Code of Conduct, Certified Site terms and conditions, the Countryside Code, the Caravan Code, and the Seaside Code.
Site managers will also need to live on or close to the application site address and commit to adopting, at a minimum, the Club’s site management and maintenance policies, as well as the Club’s complaints management process.
Commitment to Allow Site Inspections:
As part of our Certified Site terms and conditions, you will agree to be continually monitored and inspected to ensure ongoing compliance with all requirements. Site certificates will only be renewed for sites that continue to adhere to the Club’s expectations.