Yorkshire Dales aparthotel approved amid holiday let concerns

The derelict site in Linton was previously used as a camp for schoolchildren, then hosted evacuees during World War Two and lastly used by people with behavioural issues

Plans have been approved for an aparthotel to be built in the Yorkshire Dales, despite concerns about how it will impact the holiday let industry.

The scheme at Linton Camp, near Skipton, features 24 self-contained serviced holiday units over two floors, a spa, gym, cinema and bowling alley.

But a meeting heard some Dales holiday lets were "struggling", with the development adding further competition.

It would employ up to 50 staff and also have nine separate holiday lodges.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority planning committee meeting heard a hotel was previously approved for the site, but the revised plan had been scaled down after staffing issues.

The site in Linton had not been used for years, the meeting heard, with developers Linton Regeneration Company aiming to revive the location.

Buildings will have solar panels and ground and air source heat pumps, with developers agreeing to shelve plans for dozens of wood burning stoves to lessen environmental impact.

'Opportunity missed'

Richard Foster, former Craven District Council leader, said: "[It] will compete with those holiday cottages that we have in the Dales now.

"They're not doing well, there's quite a few struggling. The boom of where we were post-pandemic has now subsided."

Approving the plan would mean "dumping this right on the doorstep of a very small village" which would not cope with it, he added.

Another member, Robert Heseltine, described it as "an opportunity missed" to provide affordable housing, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Jim Munday, the authority's development management member champion, argued: "After 40 years of dereliction it's about time we did something constructive with this site."

Member Graham Simpkins said: "If you want families to come out and enjoy the Dales this is perfect."