A luxury glamping site is set to be built near Colchester after the owner approved exciting new plans for Mersea Barns (United Kingdom), according to the Gazette Standard.
Located in East Road, Mersea, the approved blueprints reveal that the site will include two shepherd huts, two large safari glamping tents, and a service hut and waste area.
The new development aims to offer an alternative to the abundance of nearby camping and caravanning parks. It is expected to increase footfall for local businesses, potentially lengthening the amount of time tourists stay in the area.
In addition to providing a new and exciting accommodation option for the East Mersea area, the business is anticipated to create one full-time and two part-time jobs and increase demand for staff at the Mersea Barns café and shop.
The site will have 12 parking spaces and a permeable path to transport guests’ luggage and will encourage guests to cycle during their stay by providing bike storage racks.
However, the plans did attract several objections upon their submission in May 2020. Some expressed concern about the potential for increased noise, footfall, traffic, and light pollution.
One objector said they feel Mersea is “overrun with campsites” and fear another site could create further issues. Despite these objections, the plans were approved, and work is now set to begin on the construction of the glamping site.
It is hoped that the development will be sympathetic to its local environment, integrating well with the landscape and causing no intrusion or harm to nearby properties.
The site construction is expected to require less time, less intrusive construction methods, and have a lower environmental impact than traditional luxury accommodation builds.