A BUSINESS on the edge of Tavistock has appealed against a decision by Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) which refused it permission to expand.

Dartmoor Country Holidays at Magpie Leisure Park, Bedford Bridge, is owned by Barton Park Estates Ltd and the site currently has permission to house just under 50 caravans — a mixture of touring pitches, camping areas, five lodges/cabins and statics.

Last year, the business applied for a certificate of lawfulness for a proposed use of land for the stationing of around 80 caravans, including 18 residential vans, 16 holiday chalets, 18 static vans and 30 touring caravans — an increase of use by 40% — but this was refused by the national park authority.

The authority said the increase would be ‘quite significant and would change the character of the site’.

A certificate of lawfulness is a means of obtaining a decision from the planning authority that a proposed use or works do not require planning permission.

DNPA planning officer James Aven said: ‘The certificate of lawfulness is a means to establish the facts and it’s very black and white.

‘It was refused by Dartmoor National Park Authority in May 2019 and they [the applicants] have appealed that decision.

‘The lawfulness was for 47 caravans and they wanted to increase it to 80. It means an increase by 40 per cent, which is quite significant, and would change the character of the site.’

Barton Park Estates Ltd’s agent Ben Eiser, of Eiser Planning and Development Consultancy Services, has appealed to the Government’s planning inspectorate to have this decision overturned on behalf of his client.

The application will go to public enquiry at the end of February and a decision should be made by a planning inspector in March, 2020.

Mr Eiser said: ‘The appeal is awaiting determination and from that the company can finalise a plan for the site.’

Mr Aven added: ‘This application is now going to public enquiry where they will dispute all the facts and listen to both sides and the inspector will determine the outcome.’

At the time of application last January, 2019, Horrabridge Parish Council said it objected because the number of residential vans would ‘increase by nine above the original West Devon Borough Council licence’ and it felt the site was ‘already at capacity’.