Camping near Halifax: New glamping huts in Calderdale get the go ahead despite 10 objections

They approved plans to allow a change of use of land at The Shaw South, New Road, Todmorden, to enable the timber-walled, iron-roofed huts to be placed at the rural spot.

Chris Dewhirst had applied to Calderdale Council seeking permission to make the change, including associated parking and storage space for both cycles and bins.

The council’s planning committee heard the number of huts was less than in a previous proposal and they were smaller and taking up less countryside in this case.

Ten objections were received to the plans, expressing concerns about highway safety with increased traffic, flooding worries, noise and light pollution and the effect on wildlife and the environment.

There were also five letters of support arguing that Visit Calderdale backed the plans, the town has good public transport links and the huts would attract walkers and cyclists.

Todmorden Town Council supported the application once a condition to guard against flood risk was included in any agreed permission.

Planning officers recommended the proposals should be approved, and councillors agreed.

Coun Paul Bellenger (Lib Dem, Greetland and Stainland) said: “It’s great to see things like this springing up in and around Calderdale, it is good for the economy, it will bring people into the area.”

Coun David Kirton (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) agreed and said it was similar to another plan recently approved which is bringing tourists in.

Answering questions from councillors on behalf of the applicant, Neil Priestley said the huts would have heating and could be used all year with the target market of walkers and cyclists active all year.

He also said overnight visitors tend to spend twice as much as day visitors.

“We’re really confident this small scale development, delivered correctly, will fit in well with the conservation area – it will be monitored so we don’t disturb any of our local residents.

“We think it would be a really valuable addition to Todmorden and Calderdale, bringing more visitors in and, whilst they are there, staying longer and spending money,” said Mr Priestley.