Holiday park camping pods approved by planners

Park Holidays asked for retrospective planning permission for 25 pods at Golden Sands in Dawlish Warren

Upgrades to a Devon holiday park have been approved as part of a national multi-million-pound project.

Park Holidays applied for work at its Golden Sands site in Dawlish Warren for a roof over its swimming pool, revamps to the clubhouse, reception and shop and a new crazy golf course and activity centre being installed.

It also retrospectively applied for permission from Teignbridge District Council for 25 timber camping "pods", which were installed between 2018 and 2022.

The council's planning committee granted permission for the work, which is part of upgrade plans Park Holidays is doing at a number of its sites across the country.

'Prone to flooding'

Linda Goodman-Bradbury, Liberal Democrat member for Dawlish North East, said, while she liked the look of the pods, concerns had been raised locally about drainage from the site, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

She said: "My concern is about the footprint, and where the water is going. Dawlish Warren is very prone to flooding."

Speaking on behalf of Park Holidays, chartered town planner Robert Gandy said the company was spending millions on upgrading facilities at sites it owned.

He added the field where the pods - which each sleep up to four people - were already had permission for 58 caravans and touring pitches and the structures would have less impact on drainage.