I recently applied for pre planning advice regarding a possible start up of a small camping/glasmping proposal and also about conversion of an old stone barn into a holiday cottage. As expected being in a caravan exclusion zone I was told glamping meant fixed units which equalled a big fat no under the caravan exclusion zone policy. I suggested using an unused hay barn ( block and roofed ec) to house a toilet/shower block in (either build them in or house a cabin within the hay barn) but this was another fat no under policy as I would be creating new facilities. Moving on to the old stone barn - just for clarity it has the parts, 2 story old cart store, 1.5 storey and 1storey stables. This could be a holiday cottage however it wouldn't be excepted under permitted development because of its final use ( as holiday acc only with no restriction on use over 52 weeks per year) I would need full planning permission and to be aware highways might take issue with the access and its in a bat area, also would need new water waste facilities ( can't connect to exsisting private one even though they have no detail about private one age, location etc) I feel like I was being pushed down a full planning road as there are many more reasons to say no to it.
I have been watching local applications over the last couple of years and I am clearly doing something wrong or saying/asdking the wrong things. Less than 2 miles away from my location in the same caravan exclusion zone planning has been given for a glamping site of 12 wooden pods, a lake, new car park, and new toilet/shower block. This is phase one! Phase 2 is 12 more pods!!! No mention of tourism need for pods, no mention of anything I was told and the conditions of approval are time of year for works, and exceptional circumstances as the pods are manufactured by the farmer further down the site of said glamping location. 1.5 miles away a B&B (old farm) has a couple of holiday cottages converted under permitted development....and has now set up glamping with 3 units with no permission applied for at all and my reply from the council?? Not willing to enter discussion regarding someone else's applications. Last but not least, and probably the one that has annoyed me the most.....application to convert old stone long house into holiday cottage, applicant unwilling to submitt details about bat survey and proposal to how he would house bats etc.....application didn't go any further. Applicant knocks down stone barn and replaces with kit form wooden lodge which covers almost three times size the old barn was. Planning dept make spot check and discover lodge and suggest he applies for retention but must suspend all work. Applicant continues all work and puts application in to keep lodge. The application gives no detail about waste water, highways, bats etc so planning officer states all reasons and policies and recommends a no. Head of planning makes a decision which is a yes approved and conditions are to place some bat housing on site...
Seems my face didn't fit??? Is there somewhere I can report this all too as I am more sure than ever something is not right?? Surely it can not be one rule for one and one for another??
