Council Tries to Create New Motorhome Aires – But Not a Single Business Takes Up the Offer
A council's efforts to create more overnight parking for motorhomes and campervans have hit an unexpected obstacle – despite working with a national organisation to encourage local businesses to get involved, nobody has taken up the opportunity.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has confirmed that plans to expand dedicated motorhome stopovers across the area are currently not feasible, after approaches to businesses, farmers and private landowners failed to identify any new locations.
The findings, discussed as part of the council's latest scrutiny work, raise an interesting question about the future of motorhome tourism in the UK. With demand for affordable overnight stopovers continuing, why is it proving so difficult to establish more of them?
Council Worked With CAMpRA to Encourage New Aires
Earlier this year, Redcar and Cleveland Council launched an initiative to encourage local businesses to provide overnight parking for self-contained motorhomes and campervans.
Working alongside CAMpRA (Campaign for Real Aires), an organisation campaigning for more dedicated motorhome stopovers across the UK, the council promoted the opportunity to businesses with suitable outdoor parking areas.
In its March 2026 business newsletter, the council highlighted several potential benefits of providing an aire, including additional year-round income, increased visitor spending in the local economy and opportunities to attract European motorhome tourists.
The initiative also explained that a basic aire could simply provide a safe place for self-contained vehicles to park overnight, without necessarily requiring extensive additional facilities.
CAMpRA was available to support businesses interested in establishing a suitable stopover.
It appeared to be a positive step towards addressing the shortage of dedicated motorhome parking, particularly in popular coastal destinations.
However, the response was disappointing.
Not a Single Business Wanted to Take the Idea Forward
According to the council's latest briefing, none of the businesses contacted wished to explore providing motorhome parking further.
The council identified several reasons why businesses were reluctant to participate:
Existing car park layouts were unsuitable.
Businesses needed their available parking spaces for existing customers and visitors.
Creating or improving hardstanding areas could involve significant costs.
Farmers and landowners were unwilling to accommodate overnight visitors or pursue non-agricultural uses of their land.
The council had also expanded its enquiries beyond businesses to include farmers and private landowners, but this failed to identify any additional suitable locations.
As a result, no new motorhome aire sites have been secured through the initiative.
The findings are particularly interesting because this was not simply a case of a council refusing to consider motorhome tourism. The council actively promoted the idea, worked with CAMpRA and approached potential providers, but was unable to find anyone willing to proceed.
It's important to note that Redcar and Cleveland already has a number of existing campervan and motorhome stopover options, including permitted overnight parking and pub stops. The council's initiative was specifically aimed at encouraging the creation of additional dedicated motorhome aires, rather than addressing a complete lack of overnight parking in the area.
Meanwhile, Motorhome Parking Restrictions Have Been Introduced in Saltburn
The difficulty in establishing new stopovers comes as restrictions on motorhome parking have already been introduced along Marine Parade in Saltburn-by-the-Sea.
The coastal road has long been popular with motorhome and campervan visitors, but complaints from residents about vehicles remaining parked for extended periods prompted the council to take action.
An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order came into force on 6 July 2026.
Under the restrictions, motorhomes are only permitted to park within designated marked bays on the northern side of Marine Parade.
Between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Saturday, those bays have a maximum stay of four hours, with no return within four hours. Outside those times, including Sundays, the marked bays are not subject to those time limits.
Motorhomes are prohibited from parking on the remaining unmarked sections of Marine Parade at all times.
The council has emphasised that the measures are not a complete ban on motorhome overnight parking, but they significantly restrict where vehicles can park.
The experimental order can remain in place for up to 18 months, allowing the council to assess its effectiveness before deciding whether the restrictions should become permanent.
Saltburn Does Already Have an Official Motorhome Stopover
It is important to point out that Saltburn is not without dedicated overnight motorhome parking.
Cat Nab car park already provides an authorised overnight stopping location, with facilities including fresh water, toilets and chemical waste disposal. This stopover and facilities can all be found on our app.
This offers an alternative for visitors wishing to stay overnight rather than park along Marine Parade.
However, the wider issue remains the availability of additional designated stopovers throughout Redcar and Cleveland, particularly as demand for motorhome tourism continues.
It's important to note that Redcar and Cleveland already has a number of existing campervan and motorhome stopover options, including permitted overnight parking and pub stops. The council's initiative was specifically aimed at encouraging the creation of additional dedicated motorhome aires, rather than addressing a complete lack of overnight parking in the area.
Could More Aires Benefit Local Businesses?
Across Europe, particularly in France, dedicated motorhome aires are a familiar part of the touring experience.
They allow motorhome owners to stop overnight, often for a modest fee, while visiting nearby towns, restaurants, shops and attractions.
Supporters of similar facilities in the UK argue that providing affordable overnight parking can help attract visitors who might otherwise travel elsewhere.
For local businesses, there is potentially an opportunity to generate income directly through overnight parking fees, as well as indirectly through increased visitor spending.
However, the experience in Redcar and Cleveland demonstrates that the practical challenges cannot be ignored.
Businesses may not have spare parking capacity, and creating suitable hardstanding, arranging access or meeting planning requirements can involve costs and complications.
For farmers and landowners, opening an overnight stopover may also mean taking on an entirely new type of business activity.
Simply identifying demand from motorhome owners does not necessarily mean that a suitable provider will be willing or able to meet it.
Council Says Future Aires Should Still Be Considered
Despite the unsuccessful attempts to establish additional stopovers, Redcar and Cleveland Council has not ruled out the idea entirely.
Its latest briefing acknowledges that developing dedicated motorhome parking is not currently feasible, but suggests that provision should be considered as part of future business development and growth planning.
The council also intends to review the impact of Saltburn's experimental parking restrictions, including whether limiting motorhome parking along Marine Parade has simply displaced vehicles to other locations.
That could provide useful evidence when considering how best to accommodate motorhome visitors in the future.
A Wider Question for Motorhome Tourism in the UK
The situation in Redcar and Cleveland highlights a challenge that extends well beyond one council.
There is demand for safe, affordable overnight parking, and organisations such as CAMpRA continue to encourage the development of aires across the country.
Yet even where a council actively supports the concept and approaches potential providers, establishing new facilities is not always straightforward.
Perhaps the answer lies in greater support for businesses considering opening an aire, clearer guidance on planning requirements, or identifying suitable council-owned land where overnight parking could be introduced.
What is clear is that restricting motorhome parking without expanding suitable alternatives risks leaving visitors with fewer places to stay.
Redcar and Cleveland's efforts show that some councils are willing to explore solutions, but turning those ideas into actual overnight stopovers remains a challenge.
What do you think? Should more councils provide dedicated motorhome aires themselves, or should local businesses and landowners be encouraged to offer them?
Looking for Motorhome and Campervan Stopovers?
While the debate over dedicated motorhome aires continues, finding somewhere suitable to stay overnight doesn't have to be difficult.
The Campervan Bible app features thousands of stopovers across the UK, including pub stops, permitted overnight parking, campsites and more.
With detailed location information, useful filters and a built-in route planner, you can discover places to stay and plan your next adventure, all in one place.
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