Couples are the target market for the cabins, but one of the cabins will be able to accommodate a small family
Proposals to build three self-catered glamping cabins have been approved despite “significant environmental concerns”. Applicants Mr and Mrs Mike & Kate Milne, sought permission to provide “luxury” accommodation on land with grazing deer in Great Gransden.
The development site is on land west of Little Gransden Lane in Great Gransden. A planning statement reads: “The fully self-catered spaces will appeal to guests who enjoy accommodation in the outdoors with the intended audience looking for a back to nature experience.
“The target market will be couples with the ability to accommodate small families in one of the units. The accommodation will have the ability to cater to visitors year-round taking advantage of the full 12-month opportunity.”
This is an expansion of an existing rural business which aims to make a “positive contribution to the sustainability” of the business, planning documents said. The operating business called Red Kite Rural Ltd, which was founded in 2012, is a rural enterprise specialising in forestry, estate and deer management.
The applicants added: “The accommodation will provide an authentic luxury experience to guests wanting to explore the outdoors from a unique perspective set on the land with grazing deer in the foreground.”
They said the site’s close proximity to Cambridge will be a “significant draw for guests”. On site, built-in features such as outdoor bathing and cooking facilities will be provided alongside a communal sauna and car parking.
However, some people lodged formal complaints about the development. One local said the application should have been refused beacuse it “raises significant environmental concerns, and would harm local amenity”.
The neighbour wrote: “The proposal conflicts with the Great Gransden Neighbourhood Plan (Policies G1, G3, G4, G9), as it is located outside the built-up area boundary and represents unsupported greenfield development. The site is unsuitable, being too close to residential areas and valued tranquil spaces such as Gransden Woods.
“The development would introduce noise, light pollution, and increased traffic along a narrow, heavily used public footpath, creating safety risks and disturbance. No adequate mitigation is provided.”
Overall, the objector said the proposal had failed to demonstrate that its “benefits outweigh the clear harm to the environment, local residents, and the character of the area”.
Another objector claimed it is “not appropriate to insert a glamping site into a relatively small agricultural field in the middle of a group of residential properties”. They said that their concerns are in “no way outweighed by the alleged benefits”.
They said that the “small number of properties and the absence of street lighting at this extreme edge of the village mean it is not only very quiet but also totally dark at night”.
Another local, who lives adjacent to the site, said they believe the proposals will “negatively impact our peaceful enjoyment of our property particularly in view of the increased noise disturbance caused by outdoor socialising” as a result of the amenities being installed.
The lodged objection added: “This is also likely to result in late night (as well as daytime) noise disturbance in what is an extremely tranquil location. The very close proximity of the proposed car park to our property and garden will also cause increased noise disturbance.”
On the other hand, others were in support of the development. One person said that the introduction of a small amount of tourism could “help support local amenities, such as the village pub and shop”, adding that the proposal seems to be “relatively low-impact use of the land”.
The proposals, which were submitted in March, have since been approved by Huntingdonshire District Council.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login