340 touring caravan pitches at Pakefield Holiday Village, Lowestoft

“The application proposes 340 touring caravan pitches, a bus pick-up and drop-off area, amenity buildings, drainage works and associated infrastructure at Pakefield Holiday Village. The site would be used initially for SZC construction workers and would later revert to tourism use. Existing chalets and associated facilities at the holiday village are already in use for worker accommodation and that does not require planning permission.”

“The application site comprises approximately 10 hectares of open grassland and former agricultural land situated directly to the east of the primary Pontins Holiday Park complex and the A12 corridor. The eastern boundary is positioned in a highly sensitive coastal location immediately adjacent to the Pakefield to Easton Bavents Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and sits within the zone of influence of the Outer Thames Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA).”

“The application site forms part of the wider Pakefield Holiday Village and comprises open grassland and former agricultural land located to the east of the existing holiday park and the A12 (London Road). The site is proposed to be accessed via the existing Pontins Holiday Village, with a new internal access road serving the touring caravan areas and bus pick-up/drop-off facilities.”

“The proposal would also generate economic benefits during the construction phase through expenditure by workers within the local economy and through the operation and management of the site itself. Moderate positive weight is attached to these benefits. Additional weight is also attached to the potential longer-term economic benefits arising from the return of the site to tourism use following the worker accommodation phase.”

“Overall and on balance, it is considered that the adverse impacts identified would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the proposal. Subject to completion of the Habitats Regulations process, and the imposition of the recommended planning conditions, the benefits of the development are considered to outweigh the identified harms. Planning permission should therefore be granted.”

“The proposal represents an inappropriate form and scale of development in the countryside. • Concerns regarding the loss of tourism land and the impact on the long-term tourism function of the Pontins site. • Concerns regarding the suitability of the site for prolonged worker occupation and the adequacy of welfare facilities. • Highway safety concerns, traffic generation, impacts on the A12 and cumulative impacts associated with the development.”

“The use would make effective use of an existing holiday park and associated infrastructure. • The proposal would provide managed accommodation linked to an approved major infrastructure project. • The development would help reduce pressure on other forms of local accommodation during the construction period. • The proposal would secure investment in the wider Pakefield Holiday Village and support its long-term future.”

“It was proposed that the decision was deferred for a site visit and they would encourage the applicant to attend the next planning meeting.”