The proposed entrance to the Farley Moor holiday lodge site off Farley Lane. Image from Google
Plans for 75 timber holiday cabins, including treehouses, in Derbyshire woodland have been tipped for approval despite a significant campaign against the £23 million project.
Officials at Derbyshire Dales District Council have recommended approval for plans from Forest Holidays Ltd, the commercial partner of Forestry England, to build 75 holiday cabins in 140 acres of woodland at Farley Moor, just north of Matlock.
Councillors will make a decision on the plans at a meeting on Tuesday, June 30.
This is despite more than 100 objections from residents, along with opposition from Matlock Town Council, Darley Dale Town Council, CPRE England and the Save Farley Moor campaign group.
Meanwhile, support has been provided from Visit Peak District and Derbyshire tourism board, saying the development would provide all-year-round accommodation, not just during traditional peak periods.
A total of 1,303 trees would be removed to make way for the access road and cabin development, effectively submitted by Forestry England on its own land, totalling around 10 per cent of the trees in the chosen 140-acre project area within the wider 440 acres of Farley Moor woodland.
Council planners say: “It is acknowledged that the figure of 1,303 trees does initially appear high.
“However, in the context of the woodland being a plantation that was purposely created for timber production the figure is less concerning.
“Whilst there would be felling of the trees to accommodate the cabins and infrastructure, the long term woodland management ensures that the woodland would be retained and enhanced in perpetuity.”
The Save Farley Moor campaign group, which has 700 followers on Facebook and gathered a petition with 5,500 signatures opposing the plans, raised concerns over the impact on wildlife, environmental concerns, flood risk downstream in Matlock, fire risk, air pollution and the felling of 1,300 trees.
Residents raise further concerns about highways safety issues and connectivity problems, with the site an hour walk from Matlock, loss of public access to the woodland and “urbanisation” of the countryside
CPRE England, which campaigns for countryside protection, had said: “The applicant is unable to justify why it is crucial to propose the holiday village in Farley Moor and whether Farley Moor is able to withstand the future tourism capacity.”
Council planners said visitors would be encouraged to turn right when they leave the site, heading for the M1, in an effort to avoid unwanted congestion on other narrow lanes.
They say the economic impact of the scheme will include creating 24 full-time jobs and 49 part-time jobs, with an anticipated visitor spend of £1.7 million a year within three years.
Officers write: “The holiday cabins would be available all year round, rather than seasonal, therefore creating more balanced sustainable economic benefits, offering continuous employment and spend in the local economy.
“It is recognised that Farley Moor lies within Matlock Forest Local Wildlife Site which means it is a sensitive location and development proposals must have regards to this designation.
“The scheme has been designed to avoid the most ecologically sensitive areas of the site and is largely sited within the coniferous plantation woodland which has a lower biodiversity value.”
The plans detail that the 75 lodges could accommodate 185 people across nine one-bed cabins, 35 two-bed cabins, 22 three-bed cabins, five four-bed cabins and four five-bed treehouse cabins.
It says the planned cafe would be able to seat 60 people.
All of the planned cabins would be suspended over the ground on steel pillars to avoid impact on the forest floor and would be a flat-pack design which can be lifted onto their bases without as much need for heavy construction equipment, the applicants said.
