Staffordshire Holiday Park Proposal Faces Rejection Over Green Belt Concerns

Plans to develop a former colliery site in Staffordshire into a country park and holiday destination featuring 100 wooden lodges are facing rejection due to concerns over their impact on the Green Belt. 

The proposal, which includes a visitor center, shop, and café, aims to provide an alternative recreational space to Cannock Chase while generating revenue to support the park’s development.

A report to the local council states that the project’s “scale, siting, and design would fail to preserve the openness of the Green Belt,” leading council officers to recommend refusal. 

The planning committee is set to review the application on Wednesday, according to a report by BBC.

The site, once home to Brereton Colliery until its closure in 1960, has since undergone restoration and now consists of grassland and woodland. 

The proposed 28-hectare development would introduce new woodland planting, small ponds, and additional infrastructure to accommodate visitors. However, the plan has drawn opposition from local groups and residents, citing concerns over traffic, litter, ecological impact, and potential anti-social behavior. 

Friends of Cannock Chase has objected on the grounds of pedestrian and highway safety risks, as well as the site’s proximity to ancient woodland and its potential effect on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Despite the economic benefits highlighted in the proposal, the council report suggests these factors do not outweigh the potential harm to the Green Belt. “As to the economic and social benefits of the proposal, it is considered that only very limited weight should be afforded to these factors,” the report states.

For businesses in the outdoor hospitality sector, this case underscores the challenges of securing planning approvals in protected areas. 

Developers looking to establish holiday parks in similar locations may need to demonstrate stronger environmental mitigation strategies and community engagement efforts to gain support from both regulators and local stakeholders. 

The outcome of this proposal could set a precedent for future developments in rural and environmentally sensitive areas.