Plans for three glamping pods near Tredegar are scheduled for consideration by Blaenau Gwent councillors this Thursday, December 4, at a meeting of the county borough council’s Planning Committee. The application, submitted in July 2023 by the Davies family, proposes three detached units with associated works on land west of Ty Teulu at Trefil.
The development includes two two-bed pods measuring 3.5 metres wide by eight metres deep, located at the southern end of the site, and a larger four-bed family pod measuring 3.5 metres wide by 12 metres deep at the northern end.
All units would be round with a maximum height of 3.5 metres. Internally, the pods would feature open-plan bedrooms, bunk beds in the family unit, a kitchen, a lounge and dining area, and enclosed bathrooms. Each unit would have a covered deck at the entrance, and the proposal includes six car parking spaces.
The application is being presented to councillors because it is contrary to Local Development Plan (LDP) policy, being located outside the defined settlement boundary.
The planning report highlights that the area is popular with walkers and states, “the proposal would be a valuable addition to local tourist accommodation and the concept is well suited for the location, in a rural location at the northern edge of the village, adjacent to the local pub and the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.”
While the development may increase traffic in the area, planning officers concluded that it would not be “so detrimental to the highway safety and free flow of traffic” as to justify refusal. The report also notes, “the area is not overwhelmed by tourism businesses that have a detrimental impact on the overall residential amenity or community cohesiveness.”
The proposal is framed as an opportunity for the applicant to diversify their business, generate revenue for the area, and expand the tourism accommodation offer across the borough.
Officers also highlighted that concerns about setting a precedent for similar developments must be weighed against the principle that “each planning application must be assessed individually and determined on its own merits.” Planning officers ultimately recommend that councillors grant planning permission, according to the South Wales Argus.
For business owners in the glamping and outdoor accommodation sector, the decision could signal ongoing opportunities for rural site diversification, particularly in areas adjacent to natural attractions and existing tourism infrastructure. Monitoring outcomes of applications like this may provide insights into council interpretations of policy outside settlement boundaries.