North Devon holiday park extension approved

The facility on a national landscape allowed despite opposition

A holiday park in North Devon is set to be enlarged, despite objections from the parish council and North Devon Coast National Landscape.

The owners had sought planning permission for “a small scale extension” of 10 lodges on land next to Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park at Brackenridge, Sandy Lane.

North Devon Coast Natural Landscape said it was elevated site in an already highly developed part of a protected, area and an open belt of land between the holiday park and properties on Poole Lane would be severely diminished.

They also said it would not preserve the dark skies, peace and tranquillity of the landscape and was against planning policy.

But officers from North Devon Council, who made a decision under powers delegated to them, gave “significant weight” to a historic planning permission for a five storey dwelling with a swimming pool which had been kept alive after an existing house was demolished.

They said the approved dwelling would be of a significantly greater scale than the holiday lodges and be very prominent, especially when viewed from footpaths to south. And whilst the development would cover a greater area, the lodges were single storey and less imposing.

Mortehoe Parish Council opposed the plans, and nine letters of objection were received, raising concerns about the impact on the National Landscape, noise,  light pollution and additional traffic. No representations were made by County Highways.

Planning documents from applicant Lancaster Trading and Development said the proposed lodges would be placed at a low density around existing landscape features and trees to minimise visual impact.

They expect a small increase in visitors and traffic, which would be “very minor” relative to the size of the site and existing levels of accommodation.

The business, which has operated since the 1960s, employs 500 people and has 295 existing static pitches which can accommodate 1,800 visitors. It was granted permission for an extension of 50 lodges in 2016.

Conditions of planning permission being granted include a detailed lighting and screening plan being approved before building can begin, and a nature habitat being created to meet biodiversity requirements.