19 holiday lodges and caravans at Ashbourne Heights Holiday Park Ashbourne Road Fenny Bentley

“The application is for the change of use of the land/site referred to as Area 9 (Greenacres) from touring/camping plots to stationing of holiday lodges and static caravans. The site is set to the south of the amenity buildings which serve the whole site and is towards the western side of the overall holiday park. The application proposes the siting of lodges and static caravans on a permanent basis, replacing the existing touring caravan use.”

“The area has a current potential capacity of around 28 no. plots for touring caravan/camping. The proposal is for 19 no. pitches, with the plans showing 14 no. static caravan units and 5 no. lodges. The new lodge/static accommodation is proposed to have a seasonal occupation restriction to preclude occupation from 16 January to 1 March to align with recent planning conditions elsewhere on the site.”

“Ashbourne Heights is an established caravan and holiday park located to the west of the A515, approximately 700 metres north of Fenny Bentley. It has a mixture of static caravan pitches, lodges and touring pitches, together with buildings providing facilities for visitors to the site; these are in predominantly traditional buildings in the centre of the site.”

“The application relates to part of the site known as Area 9. This field is located south of the facilities buildings within the holiday park. The site has an area of approximately 1ha. The total site ownership has an area of approximately 21.8ha, within which the “operational” site has an area of approximately 10.2ha.”

“The current planning status as a holiday park was established by a Certificate of Lawful Existing use and Development (CLEUD). This was granted in December 2016 and consolidated the preceding complex planning history and confirmed the use of most of the site as a Holiday Caravan and Camping Site.”

“In 2023, planning permission (NP/DDD/0523/0520) was granted for the change of use of land (Area 10) from touring/camping plots to stationing of holiday lodges and static caravans. It was concluded, on balance that the replacement of the seasonal touring units on that part of the site with permanent, seasonally occupied, units was acceptable as an exception to the normal policy presumption against permanent static caravans and lodges.”

“Ramblers Derbyshire Dales Group has no objection providing that: i) Right of Way Fenny Bentley Footpath 20, which runs along part of the present access track, remains unaffected at all times, including the path surface, both during and after any development ii) It is noted that Bridleway 21 (the Tissington Trail), runs under the access track and FP 20. There is access to the Trail from the access track/FP 21.”

“Members expressed some concerns about over development and poor design of the site in the past and the loss of amenity of a play area as a result of the proposal. There were further concerns about the level of occupancy of the units, safety around the bioswale and the amount of Bio Diversity Net Gain which will be conditioned but not monitored.”

“A motion to approve the application was moved, seconded, put to the vote and carried.”

“That the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions with additional advisory note re safety measures:”

“Statutory 3 year commencement. In accordance with submitted plans and specifications. Occupancy to be short stay holiday accommodation only, maximum 28 days per person per calendar year, no occupancy permitted 16 January to 1 March in each calendar year. Submit details of the design and external appearance, including colour of the static caravans and lodges. Submit and implement a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan (LEMP) 6.”