Plans submitted to Powys County Council could expand The Vine Touring Park in Arddleen, near Llanymynech, with 30 self-catering holiday lodges and an increase in touring caravan pitches.
The proposal, submitted by The Vine Arddleen Ltd, covers the existing 2.26-hectare tourism site in the Montgomeryshire countryside. The park currently operates with five touring pitches and a storage facility for approximately 90 caravans.
Under the application, the touring area would be expanded to 22 pitches, with each pitch providing hardstanding as well as electricity and water connections. The proposed 30 lodges would be located to the north and northwest of the existing park. Each lodge would include two bedrooms, a living area, kitchen and dedicated parking.
The development would also include a new amenity building containing maintenance storage and toilet and shower facilities for touring guests, according to Powys County Times. The planning statement says the project is intended to “expand the park’s offer for visitors while supporting the tourism economy in the Arddleen and wider Montgomeryshire area.”
The proposal has also prompted concerns about the scale and potential local impacts of the expansion. Powys County Council member Lucy Roberts has asked for the application to be considered by the authority’s planning committee.
“The Llandrinio and Arddleen Community Council have requested that I call this application in to committee,” she said in a comment on the application.
“They are concerned with the scale of the development and the potential impact it will have on traffic flow through the village, on local services and on the quiet enjoyment of neighbouring properties.
“They are also concerned about safety access to the site and a potential increased flood risk to the road and properties located between the site and the canal.”
The application states that the proposed lodges would be “low density” and use muted, dark colors intended to reduce their visual impact. Existing trees and hedgerows would be retained, with additional native planting proposed to provide further screening.
The site is within the Guilsfield Rolling Farmlands landscape area, which the planning documents describe as a “high-quality farmed landscape.” However, the area does not have a formal landscape designation.
The planning statement said: “The proposed development will see an overall modest expansion of an existing tourism site which will not cause any adverse impacts upon the qualities of the surrounding landscape whilst also helping to boost the local tourism economy around Arddleen and beyond.
“Thus the proposals are acceptable in principle.”
Environmental considerations are also part of the application. The Montgomery Canal, which is designated as both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation, is approximately 60 meters southeast of the site. A preliminary ecological appraisal concluded that the proposal is unlikely to affect protected species, while no trees or hedgerows are proposed for removal.
Public footpaths and bridleways crossing the property would be retained, with the applicant stating that they would remain unobstructed during both construction and operation. Visitors would also be able to access nearby walking and cycling routes, including the Montgomery Canal towpath.
No changes are proposed to the existing vehicle access. The applicant considers the access suitable for the additional traffic expected from the expanded accommodation and touring operation. The development would connect to the public sewerage network, while surface water would be managed using sustainable drainage systems.
For outdoor hospitality operators, the proposal illustrates some of the planning considerations that can accompany an expansion from a small touring operation into a mixed accommodation park.
Increasing pitch numbers alongside fixed holiday accommodations can broaden a site’s revenue mix, but applications may also need to address traffic, drainage, landscape screening, ecological impacts and relationships with neighboring properties. The outcome of the Powys County Council planning process will determine whether the proposed expansion can proceed and under what conditions.
