Plans lodged for expansion of popular campsite on Northumberland coast

The application for the Beadnell Bay site seeks planning permission for an extension on neighbouring fields to the west to create a further 63 hard-standing pitches.

The plans have been submitted on behalf of Lindisfarne Homes Limited SSAS, which own the land operated by the Camping & Caravanning Club.

They have received support from the Camping & Caravanning Club which has operated the site for over 40 years.

Nathan Goodyear, director of property and development, said: “The club has a long history at Beadnell as we have operated the touring camping and caravanning site since 1977, offering an excellent campsite for visitors to the Northumberland coast.

"Over recent years the club has invested heavily in the campsite to meet growing customer demands and expectations.

“Expansion of the Beadnell Bay site would ensure that the site remains a viable operation for the long term and which will add to the self-catering accommodation offered in the area.”

A new internal access road is proposed which would ‘punch through’ the existing planting and boundary wall in the south east corner.

Additional hedgerow and scrub planting is proposed around the perimeter.

A report on behalf of the applicant states: ‘The expansion of the caravan park would enable the sustainable growth of the business… and would help it to fulfil its increasing demand for additional low-key camping and caravanning pitches.’

However, concerns have been raised including four letters of objection.

Joan Brown, of Harbour Road, writes: ‘During the summer of 2020 the villages along this coast experience an influx of visitors which overwhelmed the infrastructure of the area to such an extent that conditions were not safe and this AONB was placed under great stress.

"Have we not learned that in order to conserve the area and protect the environment which attracts people we must not over develop, we must limit development or the coastal vista is lost.”

Judith Harper, also of Harbour Road, adds: “I don’t object to a small scale development within the parameters of the Neighbourhood Plan, but cannot support anything beyond them which would overwhelm Beadnell and set a precedence.

“Whilst tourism is very much part of our Northumbrian coast and local economy, it must be carefully controlled.”

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