Planning permission has been granted by Eden councillors for camping pods and yurts on agricultural land near Alston.
Eden’s planning committee approved an application for a change of use to allow three six-metre diameter green yurts and three wooden pods at a site at High Galligill, which sits about two miles from Alston in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Planning officer Nick Atkinson told the committee that it was considered that the development – which would include a modern toilet block and treatment plant, and the installation of associated footpaths – would be largely screened by woodland and not have a significant impact on the wider landscape.
However, objections were received from the nearest neighbour, 110 metres from the site, who said part of the appeal of relocating to the area had been its tranquillity.
In a written submission to the committee, read out by Mr Atkinson, they said the development would cause noise disturbance, as well as light pollution and additional traffic in an area not served by any form of public transport.
They said light pollution would impact the dark skies which the area is noted for and there was the potential to also impact barn owls and bats which thrive in the area. They added that they also had concerns about additional traffic on the road to the site, particularly since it was a single track road, with no passing places.
Planning consultant Daniel Addis, speaking on behalf of the applicants, said that 110m was considered to be an adequate distance to minimise the impact on neighbours and that there had been no objections from the highways authority and the application had the support of the parish council.
He added that an ecological survey had identified no constraints to development, although bat boxes were to be installed and enhancement of the watercourse carried out anyway.
Mr Addis said the development was temporary in nature and could easily be removed at a future date.
Mike Eyles (Lib Dem, Penrith) proposed that planning permission be granted, describing it as a “worthwhile application”.
This was seconded by Debra Wicks (Con, Greystoke) and approved unanimously by the committee.
