Glamping pod plans for horse owners deferred after new information received
Plans for ‘bring your horse on holiday’ glamping pods at a Ceredigion hill farm, which were expected to be refused, have gained a breathing space.
Ceredigion County Council’s Development Management Committee, meeting on May 10, was recommended to refuse an application by Mr O Jones, of 550-acre hill farm Penlanwen, near Llanddewi Brefi, to site five glamping pods on grazing land half a kilometre from the farm.
Penlanwen, roughly a mile from Llandewi Brefi, currently has a flock of 800 Welsh mountain ewes, and the farm wishes to diversify, a report for planners stated.
The proposed year-round glamping pods plan to tap into equestrian holiday accommodation, and would be designed, furnished, and equipped to meet the Visit Wales Gold Standard for Glamping Quality, and to qualify for The British Horse Society’s Horses Welcome Scheme, the UK’s first quality-assured scheme for equestrian holiday accommodation.
Agent Living Design Consultancy states: “The applicant’s research suggests that the proposed facility will be the only site in Ceredigion and third in Wales offering visitors the unique opportunity to bring their horse on holiday.
“Listing searches demonstrate that despite the recent increase in applications for ‘glamping’ accommodation, provision remains sparse in the Cambrian Mountains area and the development’s unique combination of facilities, accommodation style and quality, and location is not considered to be in direct competition with existing established glamping sites.”
The applicant’s outline business plan includes a viability assessment based on an initial outlay of £125,000 and calculated monthly outgoings of £2,137.
Turnover is projected to increase from £60,000 to £150,000 over the first three years with a target of 50 per cent occupancy in year 3; this equates to a projected net return of £34,500 in year 1 rising to £125,000 in year 3, the agent states.
Three letters of support, and one letter of objection, on the siting of the proposal some distance away from the main farm holding, were received.
A report for planners states the principle of development was supported, but the application runs contrary to several planning policies.
At the May 10 meeting, members heard new information on the application had been received, but there was not sufficient time for it to be considered; officers asking for the application to be deferred.
Members agreed the application be deferred to a future planning meeting.
By BBC LDRS
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