new pitches for holiday lodges, as planners in Somerset Council review an application expected to be decided later this year.
The campsite, located off South Road in Brean between Weston-super-Mare and Highbridge, is seeking permission to expand into land at the southern edge of the existing site. The proposed development area is bordered by Brean Sands Holiday Park and Brean Country Club.
Site owner David Scott had previously submitted plans for 60 lodges on the same parcel of land, though that proposal was withdrawn in December 2022.
The newly submitted application retains the same number of planned lodge pitches while incorporating drainage and infrastructure works, including an extension to the existing access route at the northwestern corner of the park and the creation of a new pond along the site’s northern boundary.
Planning documents submitted on behalf of Mr. Scott argue that the project would help address accommodation shortages in the area following the closure of Pontins Brean Sands, which has been used to house workers connected to the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project.
A spokesperson for ARA Architecture, representing the applicant, told Burnham & Higbridge Weekly News: “The proposal represents a logical and well-contained extension of an existing tourism facility, within an area where tourism forms a critical component of the local economy.
“The proposal responds directly to a demonstrable shortfall in visitor accommodation following the closure of Pontins Brean Sands Holiday Park, which previously provided approximately 5,000 visitor bed spaces per operational week.”
“The loss of this facility has resulted in a sustained reduction in visitor footfall and secondary spend, adversely affecting local businesses.”
“The proposed lodges provide a proportionate, sustainable response to this identified economic need.”
According to the application, the proposed holiday lodges would be situated in Flood Zone 3, which the Environment Agency classifies as having the highest probability of flooding.
Planning documents state that the development is considered suitable because the lodges would be temporary and removable structures, and because mitigation measures are intended to avoid increasing flood risks elsewhere.
Somerset Council is expected to issue a decision within the next six months. It has not yet been confirmed whether the application will be determined by the council’s planning committee for the former Sedgemoor area or through delegated authority by planning officers.
For operators in the outdoor hospitality and caravan sectors, the proposal reflects a broader trend of destinations reassessing accommodation capacity following the repurposing or closure of legacy holiday parks.
In coastal tourism markets, particularly those with strong seasonal demand, the conversion of traditional lodging inventory into workforce housing or long-term accommodation has created pressure on local visitor economies.
Industry professionals may view the Brean proposal as an example of how park operators are attempting to balance tourism demand, infrastructure requirements, and increasing scrutiny around environmental resilience and flood management in coastal areas.