Glamping scheme appeal is dismissed

Last year, Shropshire Council's south planning committee rejected plans to place six canvas yurts, an amenity building and a sewage treatment plant on land at Jenny Knoll, Clun.

It said the proposal, also opposed by Clun Town Council, was out of keeping in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The matter went before a planning inspector who has now ruled that the refusal should stand and no building work on the land, which is currently used for goats, should commence.

The applicants, a local farming couple, had hoped to diversify to supplement their farming income.

Inspector Beverley Wilders said: "I note that the appellants consider that the majority of visitors to the site would be walkers.

"However, whilst the nature of the proposed accommodation and the site location is likely to appeal to a particular clientèle, there is no guarantee that this would be the case and in any event the site’s location relative to Clun means that users of the site are likely to at least in part be car dependent.

"The proposed use of the site between the beginning of March until the end of October for tourism accommodation in six yurts spread across the site would significantly increase the level of activity on the site and given the nature of the route between the site and the services and facilities in Clun is also likely to significantly increase the number of vehicle movements to and from it.

"This increase in activity and associated noise and disturbance would be harmful to the tranquil rural character and nature of the site and the surrounding area.

"I have also had regard to the fact that the intention is for the proposal to be a low energy and environmentally friendly scheme and that some highway improvements and additional native planting form part of the proposal. However these modest benefits of the proposal would not outweigh the significant harm that I have identified to the character of the area."