Determined developers have submitted a third bid for holiday lodges in a Darlington village.
The owners of Hazelfield Cottage, on Elstob Lane, are seeking retrospective permission for three holiday chalets and hot tubs and the conversion of a barn into a reception and kitchen facility. Previous planning applications for the Little Stainton site were refused in 2022 and 2023 for highway safety issues, while an appeal was also dismissed by the planning inspectorate.
The latest application also details plans to remove part of the main house and to improve access.
Despite the previous objections, the applicant Mr and Mrs Turner insist its proposal is appropriate. “This application submission is to once more reaffirm that this leisure development has been carefully designed to introduce a modest small-scale tourist destination in the countryside, associated with an existing built farmstead,” a statement read.
The owners of Hazelfield Lodges said the development will “provide a range of financial support to local services” and businesses will benefit from the scheme including local pubs and restaurants in nearby Bishopton, Sadberge, Middleton St George, and Darlington. An online advert for the site states the lodges have outdoor seating areas and full access to the communal barn.
The statement added: “The bespoke holiday development is contemporary in nature and is well suited to its location, will provide a range of social, economic and environmental benefits for the wider area.
“In support of the local economy and local business, we have established a local company who would be able to supply both afternoon teas and homemade desserts as well as speaking with other people locally that sell eggs, honey and cheese.
“As far as possible, any items used to make breakfasts for guests would be local produce. I would also use a local company for all laundry cleaning.”
Allowing the site to continue would help grow the local tourism economy, the applicant said. The statement concluded: “We consider that the proposed three holiday lodges would be appropriate in this rural setting as this is befitting of a tourist accommodation business model and will sit adjacent to existing built development and would, therefore, not appear standalone.
“The proposed development would assist in developing and diversifying the visitor economy in this locality by establishing a small-scale development that is sympathetic to the location, in accordance with local and national planning policy.” Darlington Borough Council will consider the planning application in due course.
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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/developers-submit-third-application-holidays-30643587
