Appeal over Cowling lodge plan thrown out (From Craven Herald)

Appeal over Cowling lodge plan thrown out

8:00am Saturday 9th February 2013 in News

Refusal of a plan to build ten timber lodges in a Cowling woodland has been upheld on appeal.

The Planning Inspectorate dismissed Howard Potts’ appeal to build the lodges in Bannister Wood off Lane Ends Lane.

Bannister Wood is a narrow linear belt of woodland located alongside the bank of a small beck.

The proposal involved erecting ten timber lodges in a relatively level part of the woodland between the beck and the steep, cliff-like valley sides on the southern, western and eastern boundaries of the site.

Although inspector Anthony Lyman could see the tourism benefits of the plan, he did not believe they would outweigh the harm the lodges would cause to the ancient woodland.

Mr Lyman concluded: “The proposal would provide support for rural tourism in the area and would potentially benefit local businesses through visitor spending. However, these benefits are outweighed by the significant harm that the proposal would cause to the fragile environment of this ancient woodland and the character and appearance of the area.”