Plans to expand the Knockerdown Inn, a pub located off the B5035 near Carsington Water in Derbyshire, are under consideration after multiple previous applications by the current owners were unsuccessful.
Andrea and Chris Harvey, through their company Henfox Ltd, have proposed increasing the site’s car park, reconfiguring the caravan park, and adding a toilet and shower block.
Derbyshire Dales District Council officers have recommended that the plans be approved at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 10. The proposal includes expanding the existing car park from 25 to 51 spaces, representing an increase of 26 spaces, though the council report notes the approved scheme would provide 24 additional spaces, slightly fewer than initially applied for.
According to DerbyshireLive, the plans also involve formalizing the existing caravan area to include 33 pitches served by a new track. The proposed toilet and shower block would be constructed from local stone and feature solar panels.
According to council officers, the caravan site has been in use for at least 20 years, but its operation has not been formally recognized. The application aims to resolve this, as the applicants could not demonstrate 10 years of continuous use required for certain planning considerations.
Council officers stated, “The proposals seek to improve the onsite facilities to facilitate the sustainable growth of an existing tourism enterprise, as well as contributing towards the viability of the existing public house and restaurant.”
”It considered that the improved facilities at the caravan site would deliver economic benefits through maintaining visitor numbers in the area, with associated benefits for these services and facilities as well as other establishments in nearby villages.”
”Minimal built development is proposed and comprises solely of hardstanding to facilitate additional car parking spaces and a modest building to include shower/toilet facilities. These elements would be located to the rear/close proximity of the existing building and hardstanding onsite in order to minimise any excessive encroachment into the countryside.”
No objections were submitted by members of the public, and Carsington and Hopton Parish Council expressed that it is “content” with the scheme. Previous concerns about a public footpath through the site have been addressed.
Earlier expansion plans submitted in December 2022 to create a larger facility for motoring enthusiasts, including a coffee shop, car display area, and 150 parking spaces, were rejected following opposition from multiple parish councils, hundreds of residents, and the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner.
The current proposals, if approved, would focus on maintaining and formalizing existing tourism facilities, offering potential economic benefits for the pub and surrounding area, while minimizing new construction and visual impact on the landscape.
For outdoor hospitality business owners, this case highlights how incremental expansion, formalization of existing facilities, and attention to community concerns can influence planning approval outcomes.