A popular Isle of Wight tourist attraction has been granted planning permission to build more than 30 tourism pods on its site.
At a meeting of the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee this evening (Tuesday), councillors approved plans for new holiday accommodation at Tapnell Farm, near Freshwater, by eight votes in favour and one against.
Plans for 32 homes, each accommodating a maximum of 128 people, were debated in June last year. Councillors supported the plans in principle, despite concerns about overdevelopment.
The tourism pods are primarily reserved for groups associated with Camp Libertas, which offers activity holidays for kids between the ages of eight and 15.
While the pods will be available to rent year-round, Camp Libertas will be used primarily as an alternative to tents during the summer.
The issue was raised and further information was sought about disabled access, the impact of nitrates and how the land will be managed, which was provided ahead of the meeting.
Isle of Wight County Press:
At the re-announcement, councillors were generally enthusiastic about the plan and especially about what it would offer young children.
But while Councillor Vanessa Churchman had plenty to praise for what Tapnell Farm has achieved as an island attraction, she did not like the pod’s design.
“I just can’t understand how Tapnell Farm could have erected such an ugly building,” she said.
“There’s nothing nice about it. It’s just a little square box that doesn’t add anything to the landscape. It could be improved a lot.”
However, West Wight County Councillor Peter Spink questioned Tapnell Farm’s claims that the land on which the pods are to be built is used for agriculture, particularly silage growing and sheep grazing, and the issue of the nitrate content of the land, and questioned Natural England’s calculations.
“There is no evidence of agriculture in the plans and when I toured the site in June last year there didn’t appear to be much agriculture going on,” Councillor Spink said.
Despite the plan attracting letters of support due to its potential benefits to tourism, local jobs and education, Yarmouth City Council opposed the plan.
Among the organisations supporting the plans are the Isle of Wight Tourist Association and the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce.
