Green for eco and green for go as plans to build a new Isle of Wight environmentally friendly holiday park have been approved.
In a development said to be the “first of a new generation of net-zero holiday destinations in the UK”, 32 eco-lodges can now be built next to Gurnard Pines, near Cowes.
Throughout their stay, guests’ electricity consumption will be measured and their final bill would be directly proportional to their carbon footprint, the park developers have said.
The plans by ZED Power were approved by the Isle of Wight council earlier this week and will also see an event barn, cafe and bar building built.
The authority says it would be a sustainable form of tourism development, making use of an existing site.
The lodges will be built on the concrete foundations of previous holiday cabins which were demolished in 2007.
Council officers said it has been designed to complement the existing holiday village, rather than compete with it and visitors would be encouraged to use the facilities at both sites.
Objections were made over the scheme, mainly saying Cockleton Lane would not be able to support the extra traffic but highway officers said it would be acceptable.
The council said the new development would be a niche tourism product and help the Island to become an all-year-round tourist destination.
The development would be highly energy-efficient, with triple-glazed windows; solar panels; heat pumps and rainwater harvested to serve communal buildings.
The multi-purpose event barn will be the first thing built and be big enough to build the pre-fabricated holiday lodges in during the winter months.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
