COUNTY planners have given the go-ahead for a scheme to build 45 glamping lodges at a country park near Tenbury.
Darwin Leisure Development Properties' plans will also see the on-site home at Bleathwood Lodges Country Park converted into a holiday let.
The scheme includes building replacement facilities, a meet and greet building and maintenance building and access and parking at the Old Hopyard in Bleathwood.
All the existing buildings on the park will be removed or demolished apart from the house next to the park entrance which will be kept as a holiday let.
The just under 12-acre site already had planning permission for the siting of 60 touring pitches, 100 tents, eight glamping pods and six static caravans for holiday let.
But the latest plans for the park will limit the use to 45 new lodges.
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Leominster North and Rural councillor John Stone told today’s (October 13) planning committee meeting that the scheme had received strong local feeling and a blizzard of correspondence for and against.
“Most of the points, both for and against, have varying individual merits and its for the committee to decide where the balance lies,” he said.
More than 80 residents objected to the plans raising concerns over the scale, light and noise pollution, increased traffic, lack of public transport and the impact on the environment.
Local resident Catherine Whitlock said the site was not sustainable and would lead to an increase in traffic.
“A housing estate would not be built on this site, so neither should this,” she said.
Bleathwood and Little Hereford parish council also strongly opposed the scheme.
But Elle Cass, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said the plans would secure a significant reduction in the currently consented uses of the site.
“It would limit the use of the site to 45 lodges and would remove the bar, restaurant, boxing academy gym and rehabilitation uses.”
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The plans also received 119 letters of support from people who say it will provide jobs and boost the economy.
Councillor Polly Andrews suggesting approving the plans and this was seconded by coun Elizabeth Foxton.
The committee approved the proposals by ten votes to two.
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