Green light for glamping pod, despite ‘threat to peace’ fears
“A LUXURY glamping experience” will threaten “the peace and security” of a rural neighbourhood, it has been claimed.
A glamping pod, at Camptoun Holdings, offering “the most amazing views” was given the green light by East Lothian Council – despite more than 15 letters objecting to the proposals.
The concerns ranged from the loss of agricultural land and the impact on house prices to an increase in traffic on a private road and the “destruction of the natural environment/wildlife due to increased activity”.
A report from the planning officer who approved the application listed a dozen concerns, including: “Will have a detrimental effect on the quality of life for the people who live in Camptoun. The peace and security of the neighbourhood is threatened by the change of use of the land.”
A supporting statement included with Reywood Construction Ltd’s plans outlined what was being proposed.
It read: “The luxury holiday cabin will be the repurposed temporary building currently on site and will be moved to the proposed lowerlevel area.
“This is a more sustainable approach than removing the current temporary building and buying in a brand-new accommodation pod.
“The proposed new cabin site has stunning views of East Lothian, including Edinburgh Castle, the Forth Bridges and Fife.
“As well as golf, the local area has many other attractions, including walking and cycling routes, all attractive to visitors.
“There is a shortage of tourist accommodation in East Lothian and our research has indicated that the cabin, its views and rural location would be highly desirable to visitors. The rural location will provide a peaceful space where guests can also focus on their wellbeing.
“The land around the cabin and pond will include wildflower and grass meadows to attract further wildlife.”
The work was to be split into two phases, with construction work on the tourist accommodation taking place first. It was to be followed by the creation of two glamping pods but “due to concerns from the local community, this phase will now not be going ahead”.
The planning officer’s report included a condition stressing that the accommodation was not to be used as a permanent home.
They said: “In principle, based on the nature of the proposed tourism accommodation use, there is justification for the proposed holiday letting accommodation use in this rural location and the particular type of holiday accommodation proposed could not reasonably be accommodated within an existing urban or allocated area.
“Furthermore, by its small scale of operation, the proposed holiday accommodation use of the site, and thus of the proposed one glamping pod and associated works is of a scale and character appropriate to its countryside location.
“It is not unreasonable to assume that such development would be likely, in turn, to positively contribute towards the tourist industry of East Lothian.”