Proposals to transform a derelict scrap metal yard into a small holiday park with 17 holiday chalets and a reception area have been submitted to West Devon Borough Council.

Comments are invited on Birchstone Group Ltd’s application for planning permission at Astra Salvage Yard in the hamlet of Patchacott near Beaworthy, APP 3441/21/OPA, by December 9 on the WDBC website.

The proposals include 17 chalets around a central green space on the triangular plot between the disused railway cutting and a public footpath. The reception building will include a small shop to serve the development and a laundry room.

The applicant is proposing to plant new trees on the site which is currently partly covered by a large area of concerete and a disused store.

Meanwhile, an application for change of use of a summerhouse overlooking the River Tamar into a ’glamping cabin’ to let out to holidaymakers has been turned down by a West Devon Borough Council planning officer acting under delegated powers.

Planning officer Verity Clerk, refusing Jonathan Melville-Smith’s application 1576/21/FUL at South Ward Farm near Bere Alston, wrote that the ’the development proposes a restricted residential use (holiday let) in the open countryside that is without adequate and identified local need’.

The application received one letter of objection but eight letters of support, among them Bere Ferrers Parish Council who said it would be good for tourism and a local business who said they were already benefiting from visitors to another tourism venture on this farm.

Another tourism business turned down by WDBC has seen its proposal to change a fishing lake into four floating holiday pods allowed on appeal.

Government planning inspector Tobias Gethin overruled the refusal from WDBC for a change of use of a fishing lake into four floating holiday pods at Alder Farm near Lewdown.

WDBC planners said the application would bring tourists in cars as it was poorly served by public transport.

However the government planning inspector, who paid a visit to the site, decided on balance to approve it.

Acknowledging that the site was ’ some distance from settlements with services and facilities’ and the road running passed it was busy making walking or cycling ’not therefore be particularly appealing or safe’, he nonetheless went on to say: ’The submitted evidence indicates that the 6A Exeter to Bude bus, which runs past the site a few times a day, is a hail and stop service and provides access to the main villages between Bude and Okehampton.

’With me observing on my site visit a good level of visibility along the highway in both directions in the vicinity of the site, I see no reason why the bus could not safely stop near the entrance if requested.’

Lewdown Grouped Parish Council had suggested that a safety assessment be carried out on the holiday pods, which will be located on the lake, but he did not consider that necessary.