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Folly Farm one step closer to building lodges and glamping facilities
A Welsh farm attraction in Pembrokeshire is investing £10m (US$12.7m, €11.9m) to build on-site accommodation for its guests, who will be able to choose from a variety of styles of tepees and lodges.
Folly Farm, a family-friendly adventure and animal park in Kilgetty, submitted a planning application for the Holiday Village expansion to help it keep up with current demand and add to the local tourism offer. Planning permission has been granted for a total of seven lodges, 29 wagons, 43 caravan sites and more than 35 tents, including bell tents and yurts. Folly Farm will now need to get approval from the council.
“We’re really pleased hear the planning for Folly Holiday Village has been unanimously approved and we very much welcome the decision of full council early next year,” said Chris Ebsworth, director of Folly Farm. “It’s an exciting time for Folly Farm following a period of rapid growth with new enclosures and redevelopment of current infrastructure. The Holiday Village would be an important future step in our development, safeguarding jobs and bringing a unique product to Pembrokeshire’s fantastic tourism offering.”
Guests will have a choice of luxury glamping or staying in a cosy themed timber lodge on the 11-hectare (27-acre) site, which will be divided into a safari-themed zone, a fairground-themed zone and a farm-themed zone. There are also plans for a refreshments area, shop and games room.
The attraction currently consists of a 90-species zoo, amusement park and petting farm. Having opened in the late 1980s when the existing farm sought new revenue streams, the attraction now welcomes almost half a million visitors every year and is one of the most popular in Wales.