Plans for Holt Heath holiday accommodation to be discussed this week

The plans are to convert the hut, at Rowley Farm, Ockeridge Lane, Holt Heath into holiday accommodation for visitors and was originally supposed to be for two such huts.

However, after concerns were raised with the applicant surrounding its impact on the landscape, it was decided to reduce the number to just the single hut.

According to planning documents, the shepherd hut would be sited on wheels and constructed of timber cladding and black corrugated metal sheeting for the roof. It would have a length of 6.71 metres and depth of 2.43 metres with the total height from ground level of 3.2 metres with a maximum floorspace of 17 square metres.

Two objections have been sent to Malvern Hills District Council, and the plans will be discussed at the Northern Area Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday, March 3.

Among the objections, concerns were raised about the impact the development would have on the nearby holiday accommodation site and the resultant increase in traffic using the narrow lane nearby.

A previous planning application, reference 18/01565/FUL, for holiday accommodation at Rowley Farm, was refused and dismissed on appeal. The holiday cabin would have been 14.58 metres in length with a width of 6.8 metres with a total height of 3.8 metres and would have been manufactured off-site and brought onto the site in either one or two sections. The 99 square metres of floorspace would have accommodated two en-suite bedrooms, a further bedroom, a separate bathroom, kitchen/dining area and separate lounge area.

At the time, planning officers said the cabin, due to its scale and sizing, would “introduce a structure that would be visually intrusive and at odds with the predominantly rural character of the surrounding land.” Now though, the applicant has resubmitted their plans in order to address the issues raised in the previous plan.

The full meeting will be available to watch live via the Malvern Hills District Council YouTube channel.