Cumberland Council has approved plans for the expansion of Bramblebeck Caravan Park in Moor Park, Thurstonfield, allowing the addition of 28 caravans to the existing holiday park.
The planning decision enables the north Cumbrian caravan park to increase its accommodation capacity after the council concluded that the proposal was appropriate for the character of the surrounding area.
According to the authority, the development provides adequate access and parking arrangements and is not expected to generate traffic levels beyond the capacity of nearby roads.
The application attracted objections from neighboring stakeholders and members of the public. Concerns raised during the planning process included the project’s landscaping and visual impact, its proximity to a nearby Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and the potential effect on an adjacent holiday lodge business.
Among the formal objections was a submission from the neighboring Cumberland Bird of Prey business, whose property shares boundaries with the proposed expansion area. The organization outlined concerns about the impact of increased activity on its conservation and educational operations.
It said that the center was a conservation charity for the past 33 years and added: “We house birds of prey and provide educational activities for local people and local visitors to the area and are it is highlighted as one of the top tourist attractions in the area.
“Since the original development of the caravan park in 2003, there has been substantial levels of noise pollution from the increase in capacity of the site which is now year-round.
“The noise from cars travelling in and out of the site and from owners’ dogs is having a negative impact on the service we provide. Our birds are anxious around dogs which is evident from them pulling out their feathers and being in a state of anxiety.
“We were given assurances in 2003, and again in 2021, that there would be no dogs on site, but we now understand the site is being marketed as dog friendly.”
Cumberland Council considered the objections before reaching its decision, according to Cumbria Crack. In its assessment, the authority determined that the visual effects of the proposal would be limited and would not adversely affect the broader landscape.
The council said: “Any perceived visual impact from public viewpoints would be localised and would not be considered harmful to overall landscape character.
“Given the existing use of the site together with the distance from those residential properties out with the site it is unlikely that the development would have a significant detrimental impact on the living conditions of the occupiers of those properties through intensification of use or unacceptable noise and disturbance, with conditions and site licence terms and conditions helping to minimise these impacts.”
The approval marks another example of operators seeking to expand capacity in response to ongoing demand for holiday accommodation, while highlighting the importance of balancing commercial growth with neighboring land uses and environmental considerations.
For caravan park, campground, and holiday park operators, the decision underscores the value of comprehensive planning applications that address issues such as traffic management, landscaping, operational impacts, and community engagement early in the approval process. It also illustrates how planning authorities may weigh objections alongside proposed mitigation measures and existing site license conditions when determining whether an expansion is appropriate.
The application references the site’s original development in 2003 and previous discussions in 2021 regarding operational matters, both of which formed part of the objections considered during the planning process before the council granted approval for the additional caravan pitches.