A holiday park in the Lake District has lodged an appeal against a decision to refuse the expansion of the site.
LB Corporation Ltd have submitted an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate after the Lake District National Park Authority refused an application to add 22 lodges to Low Briery Holiday Park in Keswick.
Members of the authority’s development control committee turned down the application in May 2023.
A decision notice by the authority said the application site was within an area of exceptionally high landscape value and the proposed site would be publicly visible compared to the rest of the holiday park.
The notice added: “The adverse landscape and visual effects identified would have a consequential impact on attributes of Outstanding Universal Value; the extraordinary beauty and harmony of the landscape, its contribution to the agro-pastoral character of the area and the loss of identified in-bye.
“This harm to a designated heritage asset would represent less than substantial harm for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework.
“The public benefits of the proposal including the provision of additional holiday accommodation and support for the local economy are not considered to outweigh the identified harm.”
The appeal site consists of 2.8 hectares of agricultural land located to the south of Low Briery Holiday Park, a well-established site offering self-catered tourist accommodation in the form of log cabins, static caravans and camping pods.
Documents submitted by the apellent state the site’s contribution to the agro-pastoral landscape had been exaggerated and the proposal would not result in any long-term adverse effects on the landscape character, visual amenity or the cultural heritage of the English Lakes World Heritage Site.
The appellant also outlined the public benefits of the proposed development which include improving the range of short-stay accommodation in the Lake District.
According to planning documents other benefits included contributions to the local economy through the creation of jobs and sustained employment.
Plans added the proposal would also increase visitor numbers to the area which would create additional revenue for local tourist attractions.
Keswick Town Council supported the planning application and said the project was carefully considered.
The town council added: “This application represents a significant expansion of holiday accommodation closely related to the existing Low Briery Holiday village.
“As a general principle we support holiday accommodation related to existing sites in preference to family homes changing to holiday lets.
“We understand six of the 22 new lodges proposed will be to accessibility standards for those with disabilities which is a positive benefit.”
The Planning Inspectorate is currently considering the appeal.
