by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
HOLIDAY businesses across Dorset are already gearing up for next year with new applications for sites.
They include a request for around 800 caravan pitches spread across the season in Weymouth; a new toilet and shower block for a Portland site; solar panels for a site at Bowleaze Cove and several dates requested for a rural site on the outskirts of Dorchester.
In the west of the county there is an application for 16 lodge-style caravans while at a site near Shaftesbury the owners are asking to retain shepherd’s huts and install a sewage treatment plant, construct an access track & footpaths.
The early applications will be welcomed by Dorset Council which this year rejected several tourist applications, including a small number which were requested just a short time before events were due to happen.
The details of each of the applications can be read in full on the Dorset Council website using the references provided.
P/HABR/2025/05563 : Weymouth Rugby Club Monmouth Avenue Weymouth. Caravan rallies for 2026; 1st May- 18th May – 100 units 22nd may-31st May – 100 units 1st June- 10th June – 100 units 11th June- 25th June – 100 units 26th June- 6th July – 50 units 29th June-5th July – 50 units 7th July- 16th July – 100 units 21st July – 17th August – 130 units 19th August- 2nd September – 100 units (830 in total over the season)
P/FUL/2025/04819 : Halletts Rural Camping Land at Watery Lane Portland DT5 2DH. Erect toilet/shower block
P/HABR/2025/05972 : Ringstead Farm Access Road To Ringstead Dairy Ringstead DT2 8NF. Temporary Campsite for up to 60 days between 22-31 May (10 days), 10 – 19 July (10 days) and 23 July – 31 August (40 days)
P/FUL/2025/04477 : Waterside Holiday Park Bowleaze Coveway Weymouth DT3 6PP. Installation of solar array and associated infrastructure and siting of storage container
P/HABR/2025/05605 : Campsite Seaview Farm Fleet Lane Chickerell. Operate pop-up campsite for 50 pitches; 3 July – 21 July 2026 (18 days) 23 July – 31 August 2026 (39 days)
P/HABR/2025/05572 & P/PARC/2025/05587: Campsite Dewflock Farm Herringston Lane From Junction A354 To Junction Herringston Road Winterborne Monkton. Operate temporary recreational campsite; 22 May – 25th May 2026 (3 nights/4 days) – max 50 tents 17 July – 31 August 2026 (45 nights/46 days) – max 50 tents
P/FUL/2025/05398 : The Tunn

View of Chesil Beach from Portland. Image: Emily Presland