Tapnell Farm’s pods are already in place but there’s an issue with the planning application.
The plans for 32 new holiday pods at the Isle of Wight attraction will need to be reconsidered after facts submitted as part of the planning application were wrong.
Earlier this month, planning was approved at Tapnell Farm to install the holiday accommodation but concerns were raised about whether it would result in more pollutants entering nearby watercourses.
Councillor Peter Spink said figures had been miscalculated as the pods proposed would be in place all year round, not just seasonally, so it would result in higher occupancy rates and increase the potential amount of nitrate pollution.
The application was approved but officers were seeking clarification over the calculations before it issued the legal permission for work to get underway — despite some of the pods already being in place.
If the calculations were flawed the legal planning permission would not be issued.
It has since been confirmed, by government body Natural England, the calculations will need to be re-run and when the new calculations are considered suitable, the application will be referred back to the planning committee for deliberation.
Councillor Spink also raised the issue of pods already being in place at Tapnell Farm when the councillors went on their site visit before permission had been approved.
The Isle of Wight Council has confirmed the pods on site benefit from permitted development rights — to be located there for a limited period of time without requiring planning consent.
As such, a spokesperson said, there is no action for the council to take.
Looks like somebody thought it was a foregone conclusion.
It likely was.
Then after a few years as recession bites, SUDDENLY the whole place will ‘move’ to other more suitable site, and the ‘Pods’ will have a ‘change of use’ put in for planning to build permanent homes there.
A proviso should be enforced, it the business changes then the Pods go too.
But of course it is not what you know but who now.
This is becoming a major problem on the Island, tourism providers and also housing developers think that they are exempt from any planning rules, they build or develop what every they think or bend the already granted permission and when found out reapply for whatever they can get away with. I made a genuine mistake once but couldn’t afford a large enough brown envelope so I had to take the wall down and move it three inches!
Pure greed………..
No its called trying to run a business. Oh no how dare they try and make a profit. Its attitudes like this that are causing the death of all but the big corps.
If we want tourist to visit the Island we need to supply appropriate accommodation for them, can’t see what the issue is with this especially as SW and other water boards around the southern, and eastern parts of the UK are managing to do it all by themselves. Perhaps a septic tank is the answer on this occasion.
Why go to that island of drugs much better places on the mainland to go to
Question for the Planning Dept…
IF Tapnell changed from Seasonal to All Year Round – why did you pass the application based on SEASONAL usage figures?
Only in the UK can you own land but not be allowed to use without permission from people who have nothing what to do with you. Their land, should be allowed to do what they like.
What a really stupid comment.
Property does carry social responsibility, and the extent of property rights that are recognised in law must be considered in relation to their social function.
The council are pathetic. why do you need planning permission to build on your own land.. this should be taken to the human rights Court.. if you own your land you should be able to build on it.. As for all the pollution and climate crap, its just a massive scam
These people have totally non-functional brains. Must be a Monday thing.
A nice big brown envelope going in someone’s direction.
The only way to guarantee success with the planning department is that envelope to the council.
As planning has not yet been granted they should be made to remove the pods until such time as they are given the go ahead, planning here is a sick joke when even councillors can get away with putting up buildings without proper permission.