Plans for new glamping pods in an East Cleveland village have overcome local objections to be granted planning permission.
Two pods are included in the proposal for Stanghow, along with a dog exercise area and five car parking spaces. A planning officer’s report had recommended the scheme on paddock land to the south west of the Grade II listed Plantation Cottages, off Low Stanghow Road, be approved.
Applicant Lee Wilson, a former dog handler with Cleveland Police, said his motivation was to create the “perfect place for emergency workers and their families to relax and recharge away from the stressful environments in which they work”.
He told Redcar and Cleveland Council’s regulatory committee that complaints from some villagers had been “weaponised” against him and his family.
Karen Myers, who said she had lived on a neighbouring farm for 22 years, said Stanghow residents were “very much against” the plans. She said there were already problems with “overflowing” vehicles and parking in the area, some of which she claimed were attributed to Mr Wilson’s own activities, which included the use of an ice cream van.
The local resident said on any given day there were already eight vehicles at Mr Wilson’s home, while another prediction was separately made of up to 20 vehicle movements a day once the venture was up and running.
She spoke about the potential for noise and how fireworks had been let off recently – which Mr Wilson said was the result of a surprise party, although the fireworks were not on his land – and dogs getting loose potentially harming grazing livestock. She said: “We believe the applicant’s plans will be of no benefit to the community and will have a devastating effect on the village.”
Father-of-two Mr Wilson described his love for the area and how he had invested a lot of time and money in the cottages at 1 & 2 he owned, which he said had been neglected previously. He said: “I aim to make this a quiet, quaint, restful experience, not one of rowdyness or disruption, especially living on the site which will allow me to manage this accordingly.”
The pods will use an access road – a stone based track – running from Low Stanghow Road, which is shared with an adjacent cottage at number 3. The report said it had been asserted that a right of way for business use was not permitted.
The access to the glamping site
(Image: RCBC)
Mr Wilson said the current proposal, which had been revised, meant visitors would be parked in a field out of sight, respecting privacy considerations.
He also rejected claims that dogs could run loose and claimed dogs which didn’t belong to him had in fact come onto his property. The meeting heard a condition was to be attached meaning the dog exercise area incorporated into the plans could only be used by glamping visitors and Mr Wilson’s family.
‘Managed with respect’
Another local landowner described his concern about noise and “inebriated revellers” that may frequent the pods. He said there was potential for the number of pods to be expanded, adding: “There are many other locations that would fit the bill locally for glamping pods.”
Mr Wilson said access and egress would be “managed professionally with respect” and the site would be a “sanctuary” for emergency workers.
Planning committee chairman, Councillor Stuart Smith said he was “saddened” by what he referred to as a historic neighbour dispute. The meeting heard that some elements raised were civil matters and Cllr Smith, who said he had visited the site to take a look himself, pointed out that a decision could only be made based on current planning legislation.
He said the pods – timber based ‘shepherd’s huts’ containing a double bed, bathroom and small kitchen area – would be hidden by mature trees and they would not have a negative impact on anyone’s amenity. Councillor Philip Thomson proposed the application was accepted, which was seconded by Councillor Vera Rider, with committee members voting in unison in favour.
The planning officer’s report said the pods would be adequately screened from public vantage points, while a condition would control the lighting of them. Meanwhile, it concluded access use for the glamping pods would be limited with the nearest one also being 50 metres away from the closest property.
It said: “It is considered the two shepherd huts are of limited scale and there is a good separation distance between the pods and the neighbouring property with the host house retaining control over the holiday lettings.”
The report said the council’s development engineers had no objections and deemed that five parking spaces was an acceptable level of provision. It said the scheme would also bring an investment and tourist facility “which the borough is keen to attract and develop”.
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