Herdwick Croft, Bassenthwaite: Lovat Parks seeks screening opinion on small park extension

Lovat Parks is exploring a small extension to Herdwick Croft Caravan Park near Bassenthwaite in the northern Lake District. As the News and Star reported on 8 October 2026, the company has asked the Lake District National Park Authority for a screening opinion on whether the idea would need a full Environmental Impact Assessment.

That is an important distinction. This is not a full planning application, and nothing has been approved. It is an early, formal step that helps decide what level of environmental assessment any future application would need. For holiday home owners, it is a good example of the kind of planning activity worth keeping an eye on.

What has been proposed

According to the News and Star and the planning register details published by PlanIndex:

• Reference 7/2026/2169. The request is listed as an EIA screening opinion for proposed development works at Herdwick Croft Caravan Park, Ouse Bridge, Bassenthwaite. It was received on 24 September 2026 and validated on 30 September 2026.
• Just under one acre. The land in question is a 3,965 square metre (0.98 acre) area adjoining the park's north-eastern edge.
• Existing permissions. The park already has permission for 120 static caravans, tents and four glamping pods, and also has permission for five holiday cottages. The existing park covers around 4.8 hectares.
• A "modest number of additional plots". Documents do not say how many extra caravans are envisaged. Consultants Pea Green Consulting, acting for Lovat Parks, refer to a "modest number of additional plots".
• Possible works. The scheme could include hardstanding caravan bases, internal roads and footpaths, drainage and utility infrastructure, low-level lighting and landscaping.
• Wastewater. Wastewater would be pumped through the existing park system to a treatment plant and drainage field outside the Bassenthwaite Lake nutrient-neutrality catchment. The News and Star reports that Natural England previously said this arrangement meant there would be "no likely significant effect" on the River Derwent and Bassenthwaite Lake Special Area of Conservation.
• Access. No new access from the B5291 would be needed. Vehicles would use the existing internal roads.

Herdwick Croft joined the Lovat Parks collection in August 2026, according to the operator's own announcement, which describes it as a small, friendly holiday park close to Bassenthwaite Lake and a short drive from Keswick.

Screening, not a planning application

It is easy to read a headline about a park "extension" and assume diggers are on their way. That is not where things stand.

Under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017, a developer can ask the local planning authority for a screening opinion. GOV.UK's planning guidance on environmental impact assessment explains how authorities decide whether a proposal is likely to have significant effects on the environment, and so whether a full Environmental Impact Assessment is required. Proposals in sensitive locations, which include National Parks and World Heritage Sites, receive particular attention.

The proposed extension at Herdwick Croft lies within both the Lake District National Park and the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The River Derwent and Bassenthwaite Lake protected areas are around 250 metres from the site at their nearest point, and a public footpath passes around 230 metres to the west.

The consultants describe the field as having a "relatively low level of environmental sensitivity given its commonplace habitats and secluded nature", and argue the extension would be a "logical extension" of the existing park. They accept that walkers are likely to have some view of the development, but say the view already includes the existing caravan park. They conclude the extension would have "very similar effects on the environment to those currently generated by the existing operational site".

Those are the applicant's arguments. The National Park Authority must now decide whether a full environmental assessment is required before more detailed proposals come forward. PlanIndex lists the statutory target for a decision as 25 November 2026, although extensions of time are common. Even after a screening opinion, any extension would still need a separate planning application, which would have its own consultation and decision.

Why planning watch matters for owners

If you own a static caravan or lodge, planning news about your park, or parks nearby, is worth following calmly. A few reasons:

Park investment can be a positive sign. An operator looking to add plots is usually signalling confidence in the location. New investment can help a park stay viable and attractive for years to come.

Changes on the ground affect day-to-day life. Building work, new roads, lighting and landscaping can change how a park feels, at least for a while. Owners near the edge of an existing park may want to understand what is proposed and when.

More units can mean more choice for buyers. When new plots arrive, new holiday homes are usually sold onto them. That can increase choice for buyers on the same park, which owners thinking of selling privately may want to bear in mind.

Your licence agreement still governs your pitch. Planning permissions control what a park can build. Your own licence agreement and the park rules set out your rights and responsibilities as an owner, including pitch fees, how long your unit may stay, and how sales work. If a development raises questions for you, read your agreement first and ask the park in writing.

How to keep an eye on planning near you

You do not need to be a planning expert to stay informed.

• Use the planning register. Every local planning authority, including National Park authorities, publishes applications online. Searching by park name or postcode is usually enough.
• Look for the type of application. A screening or scoping request is an early step. A full or outline planning application is where the detail, and the formal public consultation, usually sits.
• Read the documents, not just the headline. Supporting statements often explain the number of units, layout, drainage and access.
• Comment if you wish. If you have a view, planning authorities explain how and when to submit comments. Keep comments factual and focused on planning matters.

What happens next

For now, the next step at Herdwick Croft is the National Park Authority's screening decision. Any future planning application would set out more detail, including how many additional plots are proposed. We will keep an eye on it.

Thinking about your own holiday home?

Whether your park is growing, changing hands or staying just as it is, it can help to know what your static caravan or lodge is worth. Static Caravan Buyer aims to make contact within 24 hours of your enquiry, and to give you an offer within 48 hours after that contact. If you decide to go ahead, payment is made on collection day before the caravan is loaded.

Call us free on 0800 644 5000 or visit www.staticcaravanbuyer.com for a friendly, no-obligation chat.

Sources: News and Star, "Plan to extend Lake District holiday park Herdwick Croft", 8 October 2026; PlanIndex listing for 7/2026/2169; Lovat Parks; GOV.UK guidance on environmental impact assessment. Featured image is illustrative and does not show Herdwick Croft.