Tourism in the Staffordshire Moorlands was given a boost yesterday when the green light was given for two projects which will create new holiday lodges and a new farm shop with a café/restaurant.
Councillors at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s planning committee meeting approved plans to build six one-bedroom holiday lodges and a clubhouse in the grounds of a historic country house near Cheadle, despite local opposition.
And planning permission was also granted for a farm shop and café/restaurant, at the former New Inn pub site in Longsdon.
The proposal for land at Woodhead Hall, off Cherry Lane, in Cheadle, had been scaled back from an earlier application which sought permission for 12 lodges across two fields. The revised plans, submitted by Woodhead Hall Estates, now focus on a single field further from the Grade II-listed hall and include a new clubhouse for the existing angling club on the site.
Councillors approved the plans after much discussion about the effect on local roads, the appearance of the proposed lodges and the impact on the natural environment.
Council planning officers had concluded that the development would provide a tourism boost to the Churnet Valley area and support the fishing club.
A total of 34 objections had been submitted to the council, with residents raising concerns about increased traffic, the safety of nearby junctions, potential noise and the impact on wildlife. Five residents wrote in support of the plans, saying it would help bring more visitors and business to the local area.
Highways officers said in their consultation response that the development was ‘unlikely to have a severe effect’ on the local road network, while ecological impacts could be managed through planning conditions covering lighting and landscaping.
Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Ian Plant said: “I struggled with this one a little bit and I have every sympathy with the residents.
“It’s a narrow lane with no pull ins, and the design of the lodges to me next to a Grade II-listed hall, they are just not in keeping with it.”
But Councillor Keith Flunder said: “I’m very much of the opinion that we need some additional accommodation within the Moorlands. This is far enough away from the hall – I struggled to see it from the location while on the site visit.
“In terms of supporting tourism, I think if an area is seen as beautiful, we should attract people and share it with as many people as possible.
“I support this application and hope it encourages others to come forward over the coming years.”
Councillors said the Longsdon farm shop project would boost employment and tourism and remove an ‘eyesore’ building at the ‘gateway to Leek’.
The New Inn has been closed since 2008 and is ‘semi-derelict’ but retains planning consent for conversion to residential use, with approval granted in 2016 for four houses on the site.
The new application, submitted by Upperdales Developers Ltd and prepared by Sammons Architectural Ltd, will see the demolition of the disused pub and the erection of a two-storey building, alongside a 75-space car park, upgraded access and landscaping.
Councillors heard from Rob Tate, managing director of rural diversification experts Appetite Me, which delivers similar projects creating farm shops, cafés and restaurants around the country, who said the scheme would ‘champion local and regional produce’.
Local residents had raised concerns about traffic, parking, the impact on the Green Belt and the loss of the historic building. One objection cited in council papers stated: “Being a continuous two storey construction the building will give a solid impression on the junction detracting from the openness of the Green Belt setting.”
One resident questioned the suitability of a ‘stand-alone shop that is not on a farm’ while another argued that the development would be ‘out of character with the area which is predominantly housing’.
But councillors backed the plans despite the recommendation to refuse by council officers.
Councillor Keith Flunder said: “It’s on a fairly major road into Leek so the accessibility is there. People will be able to call in to pick up supplies needed for walking further north of Leek.
“It also creates jobs. Within the tourism industry these jobs are necessary for young people to get into the workplace, and this is an opportunity to create those jobs where they don’t exist at the moment.”
Councillor Ian Plant added: “That building has been derelict since 2008 and it looks like an absolute nightmare. It wants something doing with it and this is the way forward.
“I think it’s been demonstrated that the company who are taking this on are proven and they wouldn’t have brought it to this area if it wasn’t viable.”
The café is proposed to open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week, with an additional dinner service on Wednesday to Saturday evenings. The farm shop would operate from 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.
