Council rejects 'luxurious glamping' site plans

Planners blocked proposals to expand a caravan park

Proposals to add "luxurious glamping huts" to a caravan park have been turned down by planners.

The owners of Fenside Caravan Park, near Warboys in Cambridgeshire, hoped to set up six shepherds' huts, eight static caravans and three touring caravan pitches.

They said they wanted to "enhance" the site but Huntingdonshire District Council blocked the plans.

Planning officers said the development would have an "unjustified and detrimental urbanising impact" on the countryside.

The owners of Fenside Caravan Park said their plans would be good for tourism in the area

The owners of the park, which offers 16 touring caravan pitches, also wanted to extend its opening to 11 months of the year.

"The proposal will enhance and diversify existing camping provision, by providing, amongst other facilities, luxurious glamping huts and improved static caravan provision," their plan said.

"Together with extended seasonal opening times, it will provide improved overnight accommodation and encourage visitors to extend their experience in the district beyond a day trip."

Council planning officers agreed there could be benefits to creating an expanded tourism facility, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

But they said not enough information had been provided to show why the shepherds' huts and caravans had to be located in the countryside, rather than closer to or within a town or village.

"The development would therefore have an unjustified and detrimental urbanising impact on the countryside," they concluded.