The 55 acre family farm became one of the UK’s first sustainable tourism accommodation developments, located in Richmond on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park in the Swaledale valley.
The plan was to create unique, sustainable holiday accommodation on the former rifle range site. This was the team’s first sustainable tourism development so they engaged with the planning authorities early to tell the story of the benefits it would create once complete. The core principles of the application were sustainable design, enhancing the biodiversity and the economic contributions to the local economy. These messages sat ahead of the debate over policy.
The team achieved two further planning consents to expand the site and deliver 18 holiday properties in two phases. The development included the recycling of the old farm outbuildings into a communal space and rural offices. The development, completed in 2008, cost just over £3.0m. The sustainable nature of the operation has played a significant part in achieving repeated planning consents. The different phases of the development show where we have learned from guest behaviours and adapted the design to suit.
The site has become Together Travel’s most desirable holiday destination with year round appeal. The properties have recorded year on year growth in occupancy and rental income since opening. They attract a broad audience which creates a year round appeal and robust economic benefits to local businesses. The operation ensures year round onsite employment, utilising a local supply chain providing guests who visit and spend in local businesses.
A number of the properties have been sold to holiday home buyers who enjoy robust annual yields and healthy capital appreciation. The team recently secured a third detailed consent for the addition of seven, two bedroom properties, this will diversify the offering on the site. Other sustainable tourism developments in the Yorkshire Dales have followed but this will always remain one of the first.
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