Tapnell Farm’s plans to replace tents with ‘pods’ will be considered by Isle of Wight councillors due to objections raised.
The tourist attraction, based on the outskirts of Freshwater, is looking to replace its 30 white bell tents with 32 tourism pods, each with space for 4 beds.
Yarmouth Town Council has objected to the proposals saying it is an over-development and urbanisation of the site and complained the pods would be in place all year round instead of just the tourist season.
While the pods would not be permanently fixed to the ground, they would help offer a year-round camping offer at the site.
Local councillor, Peter Spink, had requested the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee determine the application due to difficult policy issues. It will be heard next Tuesday (13th June) when the committee will determine whether to grant permission or not.
Officers have recommended the application be approved with conditions including landscape work, external lighting and holiday occupancy only, and subject to a land management plan.
Rather unusually, big names like Wightlink, Southern Vectis and the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, as well as 4 individuals, have supported the application.
Supporters say the pods would significantly improve the quality of accommodation and the landscaping would make the area more visually attractive than the white tents. The pods would be clad in rough-sawn vertical timber and stained, with some walls featuring a trellised living wall.
It is proposed the pods would mainly be used by youth activity holiday providers, Camp Libertas, who partnered with Tapnell Farm last year, during the summer.
The pods would have less capacity than the current provision.
A concern was raised the pods would negatively impact the neighbouring Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) but with mitigations in place and proposed conditions, officers say it would not be overly prominent or result in a significant visual impact on the rural landscape.
Overall, officers conclude the development would not compromise designated sites or impact on protected species or habitats. They say it would have social and economic benefits brought through the boost the pods would add to the tourism offer on the Island.
The plans can be found at https://publicaccess.iow.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=RKCJE9IQM2J00.
Hardly pods! Look more like lodges. Then when they get tired, they can replace them with bungalows. We all know how it works …
tapnell are just chipping away at planning regulations until they can build “eco friendly” houses only mainland retirees can afford to buy, just another farm taken out of food production.
“Pods” look more like shipping containers clad in wood !
more of an eyesore than bell tents I would say.
More loss of wildlife habitat so the rich can get richer!
As a paid-up Member of the IW Chamber, I didn’t ask or consent to their support of this application. Not what I signed up for…
Considering that Tapnell Farm is adjoining an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and is in a world reknown Dark Skies area – it beggars belief that they are allowed to have any thing that spoils on of the last remaining natural green areas on the island. Plastic pods on the ridge are already a blot on the landscale. Let us not forget the huge lights blazing ALL NIGHT.
Money goes to money,look at the supporters – all have to gain. The Island is fast becoming only for rich or retired. Why have the general community been so pushed out and forgotten by the Council etc. Tapnel already raking in hundreds of thousands a year,far more than when it was a working farm,they just want to be greedy . Only ever been once .
Good idea, bring more jobs and money to island. Well done Tapnell. I wonder if Cowleys Yarmouth town council have objected due to legitimate reasons, or to protect there own businesses??
Well it obviously won’t bring more visitors if the capacity is being reduced. This is all about gradually finding a way to building a complex of buildings in an AONB. The council should put a stop to this right now. Protect what is left of the local environment. Stop this despicable ruination of our island.
Slowly each year, more planning goes in and gets approved every time until soon he has his own little Centre Park’s and then the house building will start.
After pods come chalets after chalets come bungalows after bungalows comes who knows what
Wightlink and Southern Vectis support this planning application. Mm, let me think oh yes more fares help pay their shareholders.
We’re a tourist island, or we’re supposed to be. There’s a market for people wanting to stay in this type of holiday accommodation. Or are we expecting that people still want to book a holiday in a run-down hotel in Sandown?
Judging by all the down votes against sane comments, the fans of Tapnell farm are big into destroying the environment. The greedy scumbags.
So refreshing that at least some Islander’s can ‘see’ the bigger picture here.
Just a longer term way of getting ‘planning permission’ for a future housing estate, as once pod’s accepted, then the area becomes classed as ‘brownfield’ site, and the owner, or the next buyer of the ‘going concern’ will apply for ‘change of use’ and soon ‘another’ development for the then ‘tickled pink’ pal of the council.
Refuse it. But they ‘won’t’ as all in on such scams