The UK glamping sector continues to grow as demand for unique accommodation, eco-tourism and staycations remains strong. Tourism contributes around 10% of UK GDP and supports approximately 4.2 million jobs, with operators continuing to invest in higher-quality accommodation and year-round guest experiences. (Source: WTTC Economic Impact Research 2025)
Whether you’re developing a luxury pod site, shepherd’s hut retreat, eco-lodge development or expanding an existing holiday destination, one critical factor is often overlooked during the planning stages: wastewater management.
Guests may never see it, but reliable off-mains drainage infrastructure plays a vital role in protecting the guest experience, supporting environmental compliance and enabling long-term business growth.
Modern glamping guests expect far more than a traditional campsite can offer. Facilities such as ensuite bathrooms, shower blocks, kitchens, cafés, hot tubs, wellness areas and staff welfare facilities all generate significant volumes of wastewater.
Unlike domestic properties, glamping sites often experience seasonal demand, weekend peaks, fluctuating occupancy levels and periods of low use. Any wastewater system must be able to cope with changing loads while maintaining reliable treatment performance throughout the year.
Why plan wastewater infrastructure early?
Wastewater planning should be considered from the outset of any glamping development.
The most suitable solution will depend on:
- Number of accommodation units
- Expected occupancy levels
- Future expansion plans
- Ground conditions
- Available land
- Environmental constraints
- Discharge requirements
- Additional facilities such as hot tubs or wellness areas
Addressing wastewater requirements early can help avoid planning delays, costly redesigns and future capacity issues.
Septic tank or sewage treatment plant?
Many site owners assume a septic tank is the most suitable off-mains drainage solution. However, modern glamping developments often place greater demands on wastewater infrastructure than traditional rural properties.
A septic tank provides primary treatment by allowing solids to settle before partially treated effluent flows to a drainage field, where further treatment takes place naturally within the soil.
Its performance depends heavily on:
- Ground permeability
- Drainage field design
- Available space
- Site conditions
While septic tanks can be suitable for smaller sites with consistent occupancy, they are often less effective for glamping developments that experience fluctuating visitor numbers, seasonal peaks and increasing wastewater volumes.
Drainage fields can be a limiting factor from the outset, as suitable soil conditions are essential for effective wastewater dispersal. For expanding glamping developments, this constraint can become even more significant if wastewater volumes increase over time.
How a sewage treatment plant works
A packaged sewage treatment plant actively treats wastewater through a biological process before discharge. This produces a higher-quality treated effluent and may provide greater flexibility when considering discharge arrangements, subject to site conditions and regulatory requirements. For many glamping developments, this can provide greater flexibility for future growth, improved environmental performance and long-term compliance.
Planning for growth, seasonality and guest facilities
Successful luxury camping businesses rarely remain static. What starts as a small development can quickly expand to include:
- Additional pods
- Shepherd’s huts
- Luxury cabins
- Washroom blocks
- Cafés and catering facilities
- Hot tubs and wellness areas
- Staff welfare buildings
All these increase wastewater volumes and place additional demands on drainage infrastructure.
At the same time, occupancy can vary significantly throughout the year. A site may be fully booked during the summer season and school holidays while operating at much lower occupancy during quieter periods.
Wastewater systems therefore need to cope with both future growth and changing occupancy patterns without compromising treatment performance.
Don’t overlook hot tubs and wellness facilities
Hot tubs are becoming an increasingly popular feature within glamping developments, helping operators increase occupancy and command higher nightly rates.
However, hot tub water requires special consideration when designing an off-mains drainage system.
Unlike normal domestic wastewater, hot tub water may contain elevated levels of:
- Chlorine
- Bromine
- Cleaning chemicals
- Disinfection products
In addition, periodic emptying and refilling can create large volumes of wastewater over a short period.
Because sewage treatment plants rely on naturally occurring bacteria to treat wastewater, chemically treated hot tub water must be managed carefully. Depending on site layout and operational requirements, a separate drainage strategy may be required to protect treatment performance and ensure reliable long-term operation.
Supporting environmentally responsible tourism
Many glamping developments are in environmentally sensitive areas, including woodland settings, rural locations and protected landscapes.
Protecting these environments is increasingly important to:
- Guests
- Planning authorities
- Environmental regulators
- Site owners
A high-performing sewage treatment plant can help improve discharge quality and reduce environmental impact.
Sites near SSSIs
Where developments are located close to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or other environmentally sensitive locations, additional treatment requirements may apply.
In these circumstances, specialist solutions such as HiPAF Compact (HPC) may be considered where enhanced treatment performance forms part of the overall wastewater strategy.
Planning and regulatory approvals
Off-mains drainage is often a key consideration for glamping site operators during planning applications and environmental assessments.
Selecting an appropriate wastewater treatment solution early in the design process can help support planning submissions, discharge applications and discussions with regulators while reducing the risk of delays later in the project.
Discharge arrangements should also be considered at an early stage. While a sewage treatment plant may provide greater flexibility than a traditional septic tank, the suitability of any discharge option will depend on site-specific conditions and applicable environmental regulations.
Requirements vary across the UK and may be regulated by the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) or NIEA/DAERA depending on location.
A site-specific assessment should always be undertaken to determine the most appropriate discharge option and any regulatory approvals that may be required.
Why The Diamond is well suited to glamping developments
The Diamond (formerly known as the WPL Diamond) packaged sewage treatment plant is particularly suited to leisure and tourism applications because it can operate effectively from approximately 10% loading through to full design capacity.
This makes it suitable for:
- Seasonal tourism businesses
- Phased developments
- Expanding glamping sites
- Sites with fluctuating occupancy levels
A Diamond plant can therefore be specified with future growth in mind while continuing to perform effectively during the early stages of site operation.
Key benefits
Supports future growth
Operators can size the system with expansion in mind rather than designing solely around current occupancy levels, helping to reduce the likelihood of costly upgrades as the site develops.
Compact and discreet design
Diamond’s compact footprint helps maximise usable site space, while the flush-fitting lid sits at ground level to minimise visual impact and preserve the site’s appearance.
Suitable for new and existing developments
Whether you’re creating a new glamping destination or upgrading existing off-mains drainage infrastructure, Diamond’s compact footprint can help simplify installation where space is limited.
Low-maintenance operation
Unlike some wastewater treatment systems, Diamond contains no moving mechanical components inside the tank itself. This helps improve reliability, reduce wear and minimise maintenance requirements.
Designed to reduce whole-life costs
When assessing wastewater infrastructure, long-term ownership costs are often more important than the initial purchase price.
Diamond’s robust construction, straightforward servicing requirements and low maintenance demands can help reduce operational expenditure throughout the life of the asset.
Proven performance
Diamond is CE marked and independently tested to BS EN 12566-3, providing confidence in treatment performance and suitability for a wide range of off-mains drainage applications.
For more than 35 years, Diamond has been specified across residential, leisure and commercial projects where reliable wastewater treatment is required.
Typical applications
Diamond is suitable for:
- Glamping pod developments
- Shepherd’s hut sites
- Luxury cabin retreats
- Eco-tourism developments
- Farm diversification projects
- Holiday parks
- Campsites with permanent washroom facilities
Looking beyond installation costs
When comparing wastewater treatment solutions, upfront capital cost should only be one consideration. Operators should also consider:
- Future expansion requirements
- Occupancy fluctuations
- Environmental obligations
- Available space
- Maintenance requirements
- Asset life
- Operating costs
- Guest experience
- Long-term operational resilience
A solution that can grow alongside the business often provides better long-term value than one designed solely around immediate requirements.
Building a wastewater solution for the future
As the glamping and luxury camping sector continues to evolve, wastewater infrastructure needs to keep pace.
By choosing a packaged sewage treatment plant rather than relying solely on a traditional septic tank, operators can create an off-mains drainage solution that supports future growth, changing occupancy patterns and environmental responsibilities.
With the ability to operate effectively from approximately 10% loading, support phased development, minimise maintenance requirements and offer a 25-year warranty on the tank, Diamond provides a practical and future-ready wastewater treatment solution for modern glamping developments.
Need advice on off-Mains drainage for a glamping development?
Whether you’re planning a new glamping site, expanding an existing development or assessing options for a sensitive location, Marlowe Environmental Services can help identify the most appropriate wastewater treatment solution for your site, growth plans and environmental requirements.
Speak to Our Team at The Glamping Show 2026
Planning a new glamping development or expanding an existing site?
Join us at The Glamping Show 10-12th September 2026 at NAEC Stoneleigh Park to learn more about off-mains drainage solutions for glamping and leisure developments.
Our team will be on hand to discuss the Diamond packaged sewage treatment plant and HiPAF helping you understand the most appropriate solution for your site.
Visit us at the show to discuss your project and explore practical wastewater solutions for modern glamping developments.