CONTROVERSIAL plans to site a caravan park on the edge of Tavistock have been given the go-ahead after a planning appeal.

The company, 3H Investments Ltd, was refused planning permission twice by West Devon Borough Council last year to change the use of agricultural land, north east of Redmoor Close at Butcher Park Hill to site 52 timber-clad caravans and an administration building.

Councillors, agreeing with a recommendation to refuse the application from their planning officers, said there was adequate provision of static caravans locally and the proposal would constitute unnecessary development in the countryside.

3H Investments appealed against the decision and planning inspector Mike Robins upheld the appeal, concluding that it was a well designed and extensively landscaped scheme to provide high quality timber lodges in an area of acknowledged attraction to incoming holidaymakers.

He said his assessment of the local tourism market was that there was an increase in occupancy at holiday parks against a reducing capacity in the borough, from 650 tourists against a capacity of 1,030 units in 2001 to 800 against a capacity of 920 in 2007.

Mr Robins said while the council identified this as representing only a 87% peak occupancy, this was a significant increase on the 2001 figure of 63%.

He said he was further persuaded that within the holiday market there was a move toward higher quality lodge-style parks away from the standard static parks.

The planning inspector acknowledged that there would be changes to the character of the site but this would be mitigated by reinforcing hedge boundaries and introducing new trees, giving a more woodland-like appearance when viewing the site from locations around the town.

The borough council received 73 letters from local residents against the plans last year and there were also concerns about the traffic increase and security of the local allotments.

Cllr Philip Sanders, chairman of the planning and Licensing committee, said: 'As a planning authority we do our very best to try and protect the character of the borough, taking into account the views of our local people within the framework of local and national planning policies.

'It's extremely frustrating when one individual from the national planning inspectorate, working in isolation, can take a decision when he does not have the intimate knowledge of the area and has no accountability for the result.

'We are exasperated that we have no opportunity to challenge the planning inspectorate's decision. I feel sorry for Tavistock residents and visitors, both now and for future generations, who will have to live with the consequences of the desecration of this unique rural gateway to the town.'

3H Investments said the development would create 16 full-time jobs and bring more than £1-million annually into the local economy.

It will involve a new vehicle access off Brentor Road, extensive landscape planting, and many sustainable features, including renewable energy technology, cycle hire, a new minibus service to Tavistock and a footpath link to the town and the eco-retreat.