Plans for holiday cottage near Langho rejected by council

Maximillian and Charlottle Stummer submitted the application to Ribble Valley Council to build the cottage adjacent to their own home in Kenyon Lane, Dinckley, near Langho.

They considered the proposed development would present an opportunity to develop a holiday letting business to provide them with an income and utilize a small area of land at their property.

The proposed cottage would have seen two sheds converted and a middle link constructed between them (Image: Ribble Valley Borough Council)

The council has granted planning consent for many tourist accommodation ventures in the Ribble Valley in recent years, including static caravans, lodges, glamping pods, and caravan sites, showing the market for such facilities is there.

However, the plan for this holiday cottage has been refused with four reasons given.

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The decision notice said: “The location of the proposed development is remote from the nearest settlement(s) and public transport links, and would result in one new build holiday accommodation unit in an unsustainable location, where future occupants would be reliant on private motor vehicles to access adequate services and facilities.

“The proposal fails to relate well to an existing group of buildings or be sympathetic to nearby land uses, and would result in an incongruous and anomalous form of development in a countryside area by virtue of its siting, elongated footprint, poor quality, disjointed design, and cramped appearance on site.

“The proposal has failed to demonstrate it would not result in an adverse impact on the amenity of the trees and hedges within, and adjacent to, the site, which provide high quality amenity value in this rural location.

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“The proposal has failed to demonstrate that it would not result in an adverse impact on the biodiversity of the site and adjacent area in terms of species protection and conservation in this open countryside location.”

The development would have seen the conversion of two existing sheds and the erection of a link building to create a modern chalet, single-storey holiday residence.

The proposed site plan for the development (Image: Ribble Valley Borough Council)

It would have had open-plan living space with an integrated kitchen area, two bedrooms each with an ensuite bathroom, and a living space opening onto an outdoor area overlooking the adjoining field.

The planning statement said: “The approval of this application will allow the establishment if a new small-scale rural tourist accommodation business on a small piece of land.

“The proposed development will be screened by existing trees and hedgerows and due to the sympathetic design and small scale of the development, the proposal will not harm the character of the countryside.”