Holiday park chalets plan near Oswestry given go-ahead

Shropshire Council has granted planning permission for the change of use of land off Henlle Lane, Gobowen. A previous application for 19 chalets was refused last year.

The land has a long planning history, with two separate refusals for planning permission for chalet/caravan development in connection with gipsy use.

The successful application was made by Walker Sheppard Construction. Mr Mark Sheppard said the company had extensive expertise in both the housing and caravan leisure industry since 1990, building all over Shropshire.

He said: "The chosen site is adjacent to existing leisure facilities, golf clubs, leisure centre, fishing, shops, pubs, restaurants etc, and on a national road system that makes this an obvious choice. It is close to Oswestry town yet in a pleasant countryside location."

"It will help to support the local economy and community through increased custom for local services and boost tourism attractions in the local area and beyond."

Local parish council, Selattyn and Gobowen neither supported nor objected to the application.

Councillors said their needed to be an occupancy restriction placed on the chalets.

"It is an application for a Holiday Park and not permanent homes," councillors said.

They also expressed concern over the 60 mile an hour speed limit on Henlle Lane and fears of pollution as the site was once a landfill area.

A council officer report said the site was within close proximity to a number of existing leisure facilities within the vicinity, including Henlle Golf Club directly opposite and the Lion Quays Hotel and Spa complex further north.

"It is also within close proximity to the village of Gobowen to the south, which in itself comprises a range of local services, shops and facilities including a train station with direct links to Shrewsbury, Birmingham, Chester and Cardiff. In addition, the much larger town of Oswestry is located approximately 4 miles to the south which provides an even greater range of service including access to local bus connections."

"The proposals are considered to constitute a sustainable form of development which are acceptable for this countryside location, with the current iteration of development now proposed not considered to result in an adverse detrimental impact upon the visual amenities of the locality or wider landscape views."