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Retrospective plans for a rural glamping site have been rejected after planning officers were refused a site visit. The proposals for the site in Oak Lane, near the village of Plaistow, West Sussex, were turned down by Chichester District Council on March 31. The plans were submitted by Paul Hayward, who said the work for the proposed site was completed in August 2024.
The application detailed the seasonal use of the site between April 1 and September 30, for a maximum of 60 days each season. The proposals included 15 bell tents, a freestanding marquee, a compost toilet, and a timber shed, with the tents to be taken down during the winter and stored in the shed. A drawing of the proposed site (Image: Paul Hayward) However, the council’s planning report highlighted several issues with the proposal.
Firstly, the applicant had refused the planning authority entry to the site, meaning the assessment had to be made from a desk-based perspective and views from the public realm. Read next: Plans for 'disastrous' new traveller caravan site prompts fury from residents The council also raised concerns about the water neutrality statement, which did not provide enough information to ensure the site would be water neutral. The planning report said: "The report states that all drinking water will be bottled.
"However, no consideration has been given for washing facilities, including toilets, hand washing, shower facilities and cleaning." The circle of tent, highlighted here in red, can be seen on Google Maps (Image: Google) The biodiversity supporting statement was deemed "unsuitable" and lacking in detail, preventing a thorough assessment of the application. The planning authority also noted the absence of justification for a tourist use in this rural location.
Read next: Fears new outdoor seating at seafront restaurant will trigger 'bumping and jostling' The report said: "The application site is in a very rural location with a public right of way running adjacent to the northern boundary of the application site. "The proposal to erect 15 bell tents would be visible from the wider area and would be an alien feature in the landscape." The scale of the proposal was considered inappropriate for maintaining the tranquillity and character of the area, with no justification for the large number of accommodations proposed.
The tents, seen from above (Image: Google) The council concluded the proposal would have a significant impact on the natural environment and would represent "a significant encroachment into the countryside". The proximity of the tents to public areas was also a concern, with the council stating it would "result in harm to the character of the area and would impact the tranquillity of the area". Plaistow and Ifold Parish Council also objected to the plans, claiming that using bottled water for the number of people at the site was unsustainable.
The full plans can be viewed using reference 24/02279/FUL..
