Glamping site plan near Wem thrown out

Shropshire Council has turned down an application on land adjacent to The Elms in Weston-under-Redcastle, near Wem.

The scheme would have involved creating five caravan, five camping and five glamping pods as well as a shower and toilet block, shop and office.

But planning officers raised concerns about the site and a lack of details submitted about the potential impact on the environment.

Weston-under-Redcastle Parish Council remained neutral on the application but did raise concerns about access to the site.

Shropshire Council also received two letters from residents who raised concerns about the impact on the environment and loss of privacy.

A statement on behalf of Shropshire Council said: "Although economic and tourism development is to be encouraged in Shropshire generally, in the rural areas adopted planning policies direct visitor accommodation to within or close to settlements served by a range of services and facilities or alternatively the accommodation must be to serve established and viable tourism enterprises where accommodation is required.

"As the site sits within the countryside; is not located within or on the edge of a recognised, named settlement served by a range of series and facilities and is not directly linked to or part of an established and viable tourism enterprise where accommodation is required.

"It is considered that insufficient information has been submitted with the application to enable a full and proper assessment of the potential impacts of the development on the local landscape, historic and natural environment, including the potential impacts on setting of the range of nearby heritage assets and any protected species that may be present.

"Insufficient and inadequate information has been submitted with the application to demonstrate that the visibility available to the north of the proposed vehicular access is adequate, in terms of the existing speed limit or speed of traffic on the A49, to safely accommodate the proposed development, particularly access and egress by towed caravans."

A statement on behalf of the applicant, Mr Sarmidis, said: "The proposal made by Mr Sarmidis is for a small scale tourism development in a convenient location which will generate employment and encourage investment into the local economy.

"The mixture of touring caravan pitches, camping and glamping units will offer international and UK tourists the opportunity to visit Shropshire and to explore nearby market towns and the Follies at Hawkstone."