Cotswold District Council rejected plans to add a caravan site to Lowerfield Farm, a bed and breakfast near Willersey in the Cotswolds. The proposal, submitted by the owners of the farm, aimed to establish a site for up to 20 touring caravans on land adjacent to the existing B&B, which has been operating since 2007.
The proposed site, which was to be called North Cotswolds Park, was designed to offer a supplementary service to the bed and breakfast. The owners emphasized that the site would not accommodate long stays or static caravans.
They also explained their intention to provide electric hook-ups, sewage disposal facilities, and environmentally-conscious matting for the tracks and pitches.
Cotswold District Council came to a decision on October 25, citing concerns over highway safety. In a statement, the council said: “The proposed development would lead to additional vehicles including larger vehicles using substandard roads and through an access layout that has not been demonstrated to be suitable for the numbers and type of vehicles likely to use it.” This would result in an “unacceptable impact on highway safety.”
According to an article published by Evesham Journal, the council noted that it had worked with the applicant in a positive and creative manner. “Negotiations have, however, been unsuccessful in this case to achieve sustainable development,” the planning documents said.
The owners of Lowerfield Farm planned to offer 15 pitches for caravans, with the possibility of expanding to 20 during peak times. They stated that the caravan site would help diversify their business and support the tourism sector.
In their application, the owners explained they had already obtained a Certified Location license for five caravans earlier in 2023 and sought to increase this number by creating a more viable site for up to 20 vehicles, including RVs, motorhomes, and caravans.
In their statement, the owners said: “We have run Lowerfield Farm as a very successful B&B since August 2007, extending the property in 2012 …We maintain good occupancy rates and income, a very high rate of return business, large numbers of overseas guests, and extremely positive reviews online and in inspections.”
