Former watercress farm to become glamping site

Until 2023, the site was home to Hairspring Watercress

Plans to turn a former watercress farm in West Sussex into a glamping site have been approved.

The application for Spring Gardens, in Newells Lane, West Ashling, was given the nod by planning officers at a meeting of Chichester District Council.

Until 2023, the site was home to Hairspring Watercress and the landowner Edward Scales aims to restore the site and turn it into six glamping pods.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the design statement stated the plans would "improve the rural economy" by supporting tourism demand for "provision of high-quality accommodation in the local area".

IRUK Waste Planning & Consultancy, representing the developer, described the site as '"no longer agriculturally viable" in the application.

A report from planning officers stated: "The proposal would result in appropriate low-key tourism use and would make a small contribution towards the economic objectives of the district by increasing overnight tourism accommodation.

"The proposal would not result in any adverse impacts upon the character of the countryside, neighbour amenity, highways safety or flood risk and would result in a biodiversity enhancement."