Planning Solutions Consulting Limited, is an independent consultancy, which has been providing advice to clients in the tourist accommodation sector for over 20 years. Planning Solutions Consulting has worked on a number of glamping consultancy projects alongside a range of other tourist accommodation projects across the UK. Our core glamping services relate to carrying out:
Site and location assessments: Assessing the suitability of potential sites for glamping use, which also includes reviewing local planning policy.
Market demand assessment: Carrying out a detailed market assessment including a review of the demographic profile of the residential population living within specific drivetime catchments of the development site and an analysis of the volume and value trends in respect of the tourism market. Where possible this also includes consulting with the destination management organisation. We would also set out key product development trends and insights in the glamping and wider tourist accommodation sector. As part of the market assessment, it is critical to understand the local competitive landscape. This is to ensure the proposed glamping accommodation use is distinct in the market-place and adds to the critical mass of tourist accommodation in the locality.
Options appraisal: There are a range of different types of glamping products from bell tents through to safari tents, wooden tents and bespoke one-off design-led interventions. We would develop a longlist of different types of glamping products and assess these using a weighted scoring matrix to identify the preferred lead option.
Financial analysis: Based on the market demand assessment, alongside assessing the number and type of glamping units we would prepare occupancy and tariff models. These would inform the development of a five-year forecast trading profile for the glamping offer showing cost and revenue centres. A supporting staffing structure will be prepared. A sensitivity analysis would also be carried out and a risk assessment prepared.
Operational business review: If you manage an existing glamping business we can advise on opportunities to increase occupancy and revenue alongside secondary spend and reducing operating costs.
Design: We work with an architectural practice that can provide specific design input for a project if required.
Project examples
Hampshire County Council: We carried out feasibility studies to assess options to develop tourist accommodation at four country parks managed by the Council.
Caerphilly County Borough Council: Carried out a feasibility study to assess the opportunity of developing tourist accommodation, including glamping, within the grounds of a historic manor house.
Private landowner: Assessment to test the opportunity to develop a glamping business in a woodland location
Find out more about other tourist accommodation projects we have worked on here.
Client testimonials:
“I engaged Planning Solutions Consulting Limited to undertake a market demand assessment to support a planning application for a woodland campsite. In short, I shall not be looking for any other competitor to PSCL when I undertake my next project. From the outset, the team at PSCL were friendly, positive, helpful and flexible to my needs, and refreshingly that didn’t change over time. Work was completed within the timescales originally agreed, to budget, and I was extremely impressed with the quality of the work, the depth of knowledge and the way the delivery underpinned all the key messages with pertinent facts and figures. I have no hesitation in recommending PSCL. Thanks again to the team.” Private landowner
“Forest Holidays has been working with Planning Solutions Consulting Limited for over a decade. Working closely with our senior management team they have been providing expert market reviews and carrying out site assessments across the UK. They have also been providing strategic input to analyse growth market targets and to help shape our development strategy. This has helped Forest Holidays to expand our portfolio of sites across the UK. We have found that the quality of advice has always been very sound and robustly argued and we have often reverted back to PSCL’s earlier research work and reports which has demonstrated their validity over time. Planning Solutions Consulting deliver their work within budget and on time. We would have no hesitation in recommending Planning Solutions Consulting to other organisations.” Gary Fletcher, former Chief Executive Officer, Forest Holidays
Hands on experience – added value of managing tourism businesses
Alongside our consultancy advice, our sister company manages a number of tourism businesses including a heritage farm park, a watersports activity destination, a discovery centre and hotel. This direct, practical hands-on experience of managing tourism businesses bring a strong sense of commercial realism to our work. Our co-founder also sits on the board of a company responsible for a cluster of self-catering lodges alongside a glamping and camping offer.
How can we help?
If have any questions about carrying out a feasibility study or similar study for a glamping project please feel free to call Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk