Cantium Land and Development Ltd has submitted a planning application to redevelop a campsite on Court Road in St Nicholas-at-Wade into a residential development consisting of 13 homes.
The proposed project covers a 1.16-hectare site currently used as a camping ground and includes the construction of homes ranging from two to five bedrooms.
Planning documents also indicate that the development will retain the roadside hedgerow, create a new vehicular access point, and incorporate public green space with a pedestrian pathway.
According to materials submitted by Clague Architects, the scheme includes native trees, shrubs, and meadow grasses to reinforce the site’s boundaries.
Brickwork is proposed as the primary building material, selected to align with the architectural style of the surrounding village.
“The proposal is for brickwork to be used throughout that will reflect the traditional buildings in the village and gives a distinctive character to the architecture and masonry,” the architect told The Isle of Thanet News.
The documents argue that the site’s proximity to the village center, primary school, and local services makes it a suitable location for residential development, particularly as the campsite is no longer considered viable.
“It is currently occupied by a commercial use in need of considerable investment, hence making it a logical location for much-needed high-quality new homes,” Clague Architects added.
The site is one of several in the village currently experiencing residential expansion.
Not all local residents support the proposal. A formal objection submitted to Thanet District Council voiced concerns about infrastructure strain, traffic congestion, and the cumulative impact of recent development.
“We already have 13 unsold new houses on the Manor Road site,” one resident wrote. “Since the village doubling in size I have had to call out Southern Water on six occasions to unblock the main sewer serving my property in The Street.”
The objection also highlights the loss of the campsite as a potential economic setback for the village’s pubs and shops and suggests alternative uses for the land, such as agricultural purposes or a communal woodland.
The planning application notes that declining occupancy and rising maintenance costs have made continued operation of the campsite unsustainable. The site, once self-maintained by the landowner, has seen a drop in bookings.
Between April 1 and August 31, bookings fell from 103 nights in 2023 to 72 nights in 2024. “The campsite is therefore being closed,” the application states.
For outdoor hospitality business owners, this case highlights a challenge increasingly faced by smaller, independently operated campsites: declining demand, aging operators, and limited resources to reinvest in facilities.
As development pressure increases in rural areas, especially in high-demand housing regions, some campground owners may find selling or repurposing their land more financially viable than continuing hospitality operations.
However, the potential ripple effects on tourism-driven local economies and rural character are also part of the broader conversation.