Plans to convert Stroud Hill caravan park restaurant into house refused

Planning documents claimed the site had been marketed extensively but potential buyers did not find it a viable purchase

Plans to convert a closed restaurant in a caravan park into a home have been blocked by the Planning Inspectorate.

Planning documents claimed there was no prospect of the Barn Restaurant and Stroud Hill Park caravan site in Pidley, Cambridgeshire, reopening.

Huntingdonshire District Council previously refused permission, stating it had not been shown the site was not able to be brought back into use.

A planning inspector upheld the decision.

David Newman, who submitted the plans, said the touring caravan park had closed due to the "financial and economic situation affecting them" and both businesses would not reopen, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mr Newman claimed there had been "extensive marketing" of the site, but potential buyers had not considered it to be a viable purchase due to the size of the park and the investment needed.

However, the council refused the plans last year claiming he failed to demonstrate the restaurant was unable to be brought back into use.

The loss of potentially using the building as a restaurant would "fail to support a thriving rural economy", the authority added.

It also said the loss of the caravan park had the potential to be "harmful to the character of the area due to the scale of remaining land, which would be rendered unusable for its approved use".

Following an appeal, the planning inspectorate said they agreed with the council's concerns.

The inspectorate also said they were presented with evidence that showed the restaurant had a "significant turnover" in 2010 but was making a loss in 2020.

However, the inspector explained they were only presented with information for these two years and said there was no evidence showing the business had "suffered year-on-year".