Plans for a huge expansion of a Northumberland holiday park have been approved on appeal.
The scheme, which will see the caravan site at Percy Wood Golf Club and Country Retreat’s capacity increased by 180 places alongside a new leisure hub, was blocked by councillors in April.
Almost 200 objections were received by the council, and local ward member Coun Trevor Thorne described the proposals as “Disneyland”.
However, the plans, which were recommended for approval by council planning officers, have now been accepted following an appeal.
Planning inspector Chris Baxter said the site is not highly visible from outside the area and would therefore “not be an overly obtrusive feature in the landscape”.
North-East based firm Architects Group has described the move as a “big boost for the county-wide tourism economy”.
It comes as the organisation has also secured approval for two padel courts at Morpeth Golf Club; a specialist veterinary emergency referral hospital in Amble and new residential developments in Whalton and Thropton.
Looking forward to the projects now coming to fruition, Tony Harmieson, managing director of the Architects-Group, said: “We’ve designed an attractive range of development schemes that will meet the needs of people who live in Northumberland, and living in the county myself I couldn’t be more excited to seeing this all going on around me.
“The residential developments in particular are creating a mix of property types and styles, from barn conversions in gorgeous village settings to new building family homes by the sea.”
The padel courts will be created on the practice area to the west of Morpeth’s club house.
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It is hoped the veterinary emergency referral hospital in Amble will alleviate pressure on existing veterinary practices and provide additional specialist services and treatment.
In Whalton, planning consent was awarded for two properties to be converted behind the Beresford Arms pub.
These will have private rear gardens and retain internal bespoke features of the original stable block holiday lets. And a barn in Thropton will be converted into four luxury executive homes.