Jobs boost pledge if Shropshire holiday park expands
New jobs will be created if a Shropshire holiday park is given the green light to build 35 lodges on a field and to create a clubhouse.
Beaconsfield Farm Holiday Park, near Shawbury, has submitted plans for a new restaurant and clubhouse building to replace the existing structure at the park.
Owners say the scheme could create an extra six jobs if it is given the green light. They claim the expansion is needed as the park has grown by 48 per cent since the clubhouse was originally built and cannot cater for the increasing number of visitors any more.
A separate planning application has also been submitted for the change of use of a field to accommodate 35 more holiday lodges.
Beaconsfield Holiday Park was granted consent for caravan park, touring and static caravans in 1994. Since then it has grown to accommodate 217 caravan and holiday home pitches. The 217 pitches include 80 touring caravan pitches, 73 static caravans and 64 holiday lodges.
The clubhouse building was approved in 1999 and bosses say it was built to cater for a considerably smaller holiday park than now exists.
In a document submitted to Shropshire Council it states: "Since the 1999 approval the park has grown with an additional 64 pitches approved.
"Also since the 1990s people's leisure expectations have increased and in a competitive leisure market visitors seek holiday parks with modern facilities.
"The 17-year-old clubhouse is now too small for the larger park and a larger more modern clubhouse is needed to keep pace with the park's growth and visitors' leisure expectations.
"Currently the park employs 11 local people but if the new clubhouse and 35 lodges are approved there will be a further six local jobs.
"Considerable emphasis has been placed by the park owners on the park setting. Two large new ponds have been created within the park. More than 22,000 trees have been planted and are now in their 13th to 17th growing season.
"Wildlife has increased and is encouraged within and on the periphery of the park.
"Beaconsfield Holiday Park is recognised as a quality holiday park; a member of the Best of British Quality Touring and Holiday Parks, a 5 Flag AA Park and a 5 Star England Holiday and Touring Park.
"The character and quality of the site's surroundings are not harmed nor is there any detrimental impact on neighbours or the highway network."
The plans state the new clubhouse will be single-storey and have a restaurant and bar inside. Owners are hoping to convert the existing clubhouse into two holiday apartments.
