Plans for glamping pods in Rutland were refused. Council deemed locations unsuitable due to remoteness and landscape impact.
Rocott Lodge Barn wanted glamping pods. Mr. K Wellman-Smith owned the land and wanted three one-bedroom pods. He thought Oakham, four miles away with good access, made it ideal. Rutland’s attractions and services are nearby.
However, council officers disagreed and refused the application. The site is too remote, they said, and existing attractions are not close. The plan relies on private transport, which would cause significant travel.
The highways department had no objections, still it was rejected. A similar plan failed in 2017 involving converting a barn into lets, Rocott Lodge’s barn being the site. The reason was also the location.
Wing Hollow also had a rejected plan. Fiona Cox wanted one holiday pod, including decking, on her land. Rutland County Council rejected it twice, the first time coming last year, saying it impacted the area and biodiversity concerns existed.
Cox tried a new application, moving the pod’s location. Planning officers still disliked it, stating that the decking, access, and parking look bad. It harmed the landscape’s character, the site lacks nearby facilities, and it is also in the open countryside.