Holiday accommodation on Green Belt south of Bath is refused

Plans for holiday homes in a village south of Bath were refused last week.

The Guildhall in Bath

The planning application to change the use of land at Wellow from agricultural to holiday accommodation and erect two ‘pigsty’ pods was submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council in April

The site is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Green Belt.

The proposed diversification scheme at Norton Lane Farm said the pods would be solely for visiting tourists and likely be busier over the summer months and at weekends.

The application said the pods would be let on a night-by-night basis and the business plan aimed for 32% occupancy over the 12-month calendar, with only 5% occupancy during December, January and February, and hopefully 80% occupancy in the summer months.

Each pod would sleep two, so the maximum occupancy for the site would be four people.

The application said that guests would be advised about the Countryside Code.

Parking would be “easily accommodated” in the farmyard area. The proposed siting of the pods within a field enclosed by hedging would shield them, with additional planting conserving the character and appearance of the landscape.

The application also said that with the nearest property 300 metres away, there would not be an unacceptable impact on people living nearby.

Wellow parish councillors were in support of the plans although flagged up the importance of keeping any lighting to a minimum.

Some concern was also expressed about where the treatment plant for wastewater would be sited and the destination of the treated water. The Environment Agency and Wessex Water did not comment on the application, however.

B&NES Council planners turned down the proposal, saying it was inappropriate development in the Green Belt and there were no very special circumstances to outweigh the harm.