46-space car park at Field West of Treehouse Study Centre, Beaulieu

What was proposed

The application proposed changing a field to a permanent surfaced car park and access track serving the Treehouse Study Centre.

“Proposal: Change of use to car park with access track, including surfacing, to serve Treehouse Study Centre…”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The site is a grass field used for event overflow parking, beside woodland and existing routes leading to the study centre.

“The application site is land within the Beaulieu Estate and National Motor Museum, situated to the north of the main attraction. The Treehouse Study Centre is accessed through the main entrance of the museum, through the route towards the museum parking areas and continuing along to a private gravelled track which provide vehicular access to several residential dwellings. The site comprises a grass field currently used as overflow parking for events.”

“The site is adjacent to a private road west of the Treehouse Study Centre and a new section of footpath would join an existing footpath which already runs through Goswell Coppice which forms an ancient tree lined boundary on the eastern side of the site exiting immediately adjacent to the study centre. The change of use would only affect the site area as outlined leaving the remainder of Hides Field as grassland used in connection with an agricultural use.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

The wider field has a lawful certificate for events and parking, while the Treehouse Study Centre was approved in 2007.

“Application for a Certificate of Lawful Development for Existing use of land for events and parking (14/00415) – certificate issued (lawful) on 16 December 2014”

“Tree House Study Centre; demolish existing (07/91713) approved on 23 August 2007”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the proposal acceptable because it would improve safe and inclusive access without significant landscape, ecological, neighbour or highway harm.

“The current parking provisions and accessibility arrangements are unsuitable and can act as a barrier, excluding those with physical disabilities. Although there is no obligation for the applicants to provide car parking facilities, this is considered to be a reasonable requirement for the facility to support its users. The proposal seeks to improve the facilities to offer better, safer and closer alternatives to all users within the local community.”

“The site is well away from a main road and some existing access arrangements will be utilised. The car park will be used in conjunction with treehouse events and activities. The new access joining the existing route would divert traffic away from the private road used by residents for their own vehicle access to their dwellings and for deliveries to these dwellings as well as to the study centre.”

Officer report

What consultees said

Landscape and ecology consultees supported the proposal subject to conditions, while trees, archaeology and Natural England raised no objections.

“It is considered that the proposals do not harm the quality of the landscape character or natural beauty of the immediate and wider location and that the proposed intermittent use will not harm the tranquillity of the location.”

“The proposal will have little or no impact on the health and condition of the ancient trees.”

Officer report

Public views

Nineteen objections cited environmental, residential and commercial concerns, while fourteen supporters cited accessibility, safety and the charity’s future.

“No discussion of alternative solutions such as a walking path. • Use of the car park for additional commercial enterprises not related to educational activities. • Setting a precedent for commercial expansion and intensification. • Harm to residential amenity, dark skies and light pollution, impacts on ecology. • Harm to residents' mental health and wellbeing. • No obligation to provide parking. • Recent legislation strengthens protection of National Parks.”

“The proposal is not about convenience, but about inclusion, opportunity and sustainability. • New car park keeps an elegant separation between the woodland area and treehouse site, enhancing the woodland setting. • Treehouse is an amazing facility built with public money and their usage is restricted by difficult and narrow access. • The proposal enhances access, safety, and inclusivity while supporting the Trust's important work.”

Officer report

Who spoke

[name withheld] spoke for the proposal, [name withheld] spoke against it, and Councillor Nick Hubbard gave parish council comments.

The committee’s debate

Members discussed adding a requirement to restore the site if the Treehouse Study Centre stopped operating.

“25/01405/FULL Details Field West of Treehouse Study Centre, Hartford Wood, Beaulieu SO42 7YL - Change of use to car park with access track, including surfacing, to serve Treehouse Study Centre Public Participants Rachel Pearson (For) Stephen Rigby (Against) Cllr Nick Hubbard (Beaulieu Parish Council) Comments Following discussion, Members were minded to include an additional condition that, should the study centre cease to operate, the application site would be restored to…”

Minutes