Planners to rule on bid to create touring caravan and camping site

APPROVAL has been sought for a change of use of land to provide a caravan and camping site near Alton.

A planning application has been submitted for the change use for 14 touring caravan pitches with separate camping open space; facilities building and reception and associated works – partially retrospective – in Cheadle Road, Alton,

Sammons Architectural Ltd of Leek have been appointed by Mr P Finney to prepare and resubmit a planning application to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council following the refusal of a previous applications for a change of use of land.

A planning, design and access statement by Sammons Architectural said: “The original application responded to a request from the council following a complaint that unauthorised works had been carried out on the site. The applicant has currently carried out minor alterations to facilitate the proposal, such as some regrading works, deposition of hard core etc.

“The application proposes a tourist related use in the Churnet Valley. The site will still be open in appearance. There will be internal accesses and hardstanding for the tourers as well as an additional seven car parking spaces. The only buildings will be the facilities building and the reception that will also have an adjacent compound for gas bottles and rubbish bins.

“The scale of the proposal will be relatively low as the only permanent structures will be facilities building and reception/compound. Caravans and tents will be on the site on a seasonal basis.

“The site is a small parcel of land that had an agricultural use, albeit it had not been used for agricultural purposes for some time. The proposed use will still have a relatively low impact on the visual amenities in the locality, due to the form of tourist accommodation proposed. The only notable introduction to the site will be the two ancillary buildings proposed. A decision is expected by planners within six weeks.