Holiday lodges are given the go-ahead

Holiday lodges are given the go-ahead

December 20, 2021

Forty new holiday lodges delivering biodiversity net gain and sustainable tourism opportunities have been approved for the National Park.

The Authority’s Planning Committee voted to approve plans for 40 units set in a new wooded landscape scheme in the grounds of Marwell Activity Centre, near Owslebury, Hampshire.

The consent followed extensive remodelling of the original application, which was for 52 lodges.

Officers worked closely with the applicant to help deliver a proposal with a scale and design that was more in keeping with the surrounding landscape.

Marwell Activity Centre, which has been operating for four decades, offers a range of outdoor and indoor activities, courses for schools, colleges, youth groups, and corporate/team building days. The lodges will be available for couples and families and diversify the activity centre’s current income stream.

The lodges will be set within a new comprehensive landscape scheme of native trees, understorey planting and scrub areas to create a new wooded environment.

Eight lodges are proposed to have green roofs and many will have bird boxes. Four electric vehicle charging points will be installed in the new car park.

The scheme exceeds the minimum 10% biodiversity net gain that national legislation is anticipated to include.

Richard Ferguson, Development Management Lead for the West of the National Park, said: “We’ve worked collaboratively with the applicant to amend the original proposals with a high-quality scheme that delivers on design, landscape and sustainability.

“The staycation market has boomed since the start of the pandemic and businesses are having to adapt and seize the opportunities to diversify their income. This scheme clearly offers opportunities to increase visitors’ access to this treasured landscape and expand the National Park’s sustainable tourism offer.”