Plans to replace touring pitches with static caravans at a Pembrokeshire site have been lodged, with the applicant saying they will boost the local tourism economy.
Coastal Resorts Ltd, through agent Geraint John Planning Ltd, has applied to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park to replace touring pitches with 16 static caravans and regularise four unauthorised units at Moreton Farm Leisure Park, Moreton Lane, near Saundersfoot.
A previous change-of-use application was refused last summer. The amended scheme aims to address the reasons given, including “no further capacity for extensions to medium/large caravan sites such as this”.
The application follows a pre-application consultation.
A supporting statement says Moreton Farm Leisure Park has 64 static caravans and 20 touring caravans.
It says a UK Caravan and Camping Alliance report puts average daily spending at £217 for visitors in rented accommodation, compared with £101 for touring visitors.
“Using a conservative 50 per cent occupancy rate over the 213-day peak season (April 1–August 30), the proposed 20 static units (including the four unauthorised units) would generate approximately £462,210 in visitor spend.
“By contrast, retaining 20 touring units, and removing the four unauthorised units at Moreton Farm Leisure Park would generate only £215,130 over the same period. Accordingly, the proposals would materially increase local economic activity.”
It says pre-application concerns that “any application would need to ensure that the total number of units on site does not exceed the permitted baseline of 80 pitches,” have been addressed by cutting the proposed static caravans in the northern parcels from 20 to 16.
“This proposal ensures the regularisation of four unauthorised units across the site, while remaining within the permitted baseline of 80 pitches.”
It says the proposals are “a like-for-like replacement of 20 tourers with 20 static caravans (inc. the 4 unauthorised static units in situ)” and therefore “not therefore an extension to a medium/large caravan site”. It adds: “nor do they intensify the extent of static caravan and touring caravan development”.
It concludes: “This proposal represents a significant investment by the company in the park and the local area and would result in economic benefits to the area and local businesses all-year round – in line with National Policy.”
Park planners will consider the application at a later date.
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