Campsite support facilities at Dewslake Farm, Lamphey, Pembroke

What was proposed

The application proposed converting and partly extending an agricultural outbuilding into permanent campsite facilities, including toilets, showers, kitchens, storage and a function room.

“The application site forms part of Dewslake Farm, an established campsite located in open countryside approximately 600m to the east of Lamphey. The wider site comprises a series of camping fields, internal access tracks, designated parking areas and a cluster of buildings and structures associated with the operation of the campsite, including ancillary facilities and service areas.”

“The application seeks full planning permission for the conversion and partial extension of an existing agricultural outbuilding to form a permanent, purpose-built facilities building associated with the established Dewslake Farm campsite. The proposal involves the comprehensive internal reconfiguration of the building and associated external alterations.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Earlier approvals covered a café and flood management centre, campsite facilities, footpath changes and the use of agricultural land as a tented campsite.

“19/1100/PA - Change of use of existing building to Café and flood management centre. Approved 8 th April 2020”

“15/0676/PA - Change of use of agricultural land to tented campsite (in retrospect). Allowed by appeal…”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended approval because the proposal supported rural tourism, reused an existing building and provided social, economic and environmental benefits.

“Policy SP 1 (Sustainable Development) requires that all development proposals are appropriate to their location and deliver positive social, economic and environmental outcomes. The proposal involves the change of use of a former agricultural outbuilding to provide a permanent facilities building associated with the existing campsite.”

“Policy GN.20 (Site Facilities on Existing Caravan and Camping Sites) supports proposals to upgrade and improve facilities on existing static caravan, touring caravan and tent sites, provided that such development would not undermine the viability or vitality of facilities within nearby settlements and incorporates appropriate environmental standards.”

Officer report

Main planning impacts

The proposal was considered acceptable in scale, design, amenity, highway safety, drainage and ecology, subject to conditions including a new treatment plant.

“The proposal incorporates a drainage strategy whereby foul water would be directed to a new package treatment plant, which is considered an appropriate and acceptable means of foul drainage in this rural location. Surface water would be disposed of via a soakaway system. As the development relates primarily to the conversion and extension of an existing building, it is not anticipated that there would be a significant increase in surface water run-off.”

“The proposal represents a proportionate form of development that would enhance the operation of an established rural tourism facility. The scheme makes effective use of an existing building, improves the quality and provision of on-site facilities, and rationalises the layout of the site through the removal of temporary structures.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Highways, the ecologist and the community council supported the proposal subject to conditions or raised no objection, while no third-party representations were received.

“A.2.7 Following the publicity of the application no third party representations have been received…”

Officer report

Who spoke

No public speakers attended the application, while the planning officer answered members’ questions about the site’s operation and licensing.

What members discussed

Councillor Alec Cormack praised the reuse of the building and removal of temporary structures, while members asked about business restrictions and licensing.

“Councillor Alec Cormack advised that this was an excellent use of the existing building and the removal of the temporary structures would add to the improvements.”

“Approval of the application was then Moved by Councillor Alec Cormack; Seconded by Councillor Danny Young.”

Minutes

The committee vote

Councillors voted twelve in favour, with no votes against and no abstentions.

“The vote, undertaken by way of a roll-call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows:”

“There were no votes against and no abstentions.”

Minutes

The decision

The application was approved subject to the conditions set out for commencement, plans, drainage, biodiversity, lighting, use restrictions and temporary structure removal.

“That the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions outlined in Section1.1 of the report.”

Minutes