Aerial view of plans for Tapnell holiday accommodation

Tapnell Farm submit plans for all-year holiday accommodation in place of seasonal camping

An Isle of Wight tourist attraction is looking to change its seasonal camping to a more permanent offer.

Tapnell Farm, based on the outskirts of Freshwater, is looking to install 32 high-quality tourism pods, with enough space for four beds in each.

They would be clad in rough-sawn vertical timber and stained, with some walls featuring a trellised living wall.

On site of zorbing and summer camp
Currently, the site is the zorbing course and also in the summer, houses 30 bell tents and a communal activities tent.

The new tourism pods would be moveable, but would be a more permanent fixture.

Popular camp
The seasonal campsite ran from 1st May to 30th September and has been used before by the National Citizens Service.

In the last year, Tapnell Farm has partnered with Camp Libertas, which offers children from 8 to 15 the opportunity to connect with nature.

Agent: Breaking the seasonality of trade
Planning agent, on behalf of Tapnell Farm, BCM says the proposal will deliver a high-quality solution which breaks the seasonality of trade.

It is proposed the permanent shower and toilet block would remain.

Landscaping scheme
A landscaping scheme is also proposed as part of the camping development.

It includes the planting of 70 native tree; a 21,300m² meadow grassland; 195m of mixed native hedge and 1,900m² of tree and scrub planting.

View the plans
You can view the application, 21/01931/FUL, on the council’s planning register.

The public consultation runs until 16th December.

Inappropriate domes
Planning permission had been previously refused for seven permanent self-contained tourism domes as it was considered the domes were inappropriate to the visual amenity and the character of the area.


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