Tourism

6.9 Tourism is becoming an increasingly important element of the economy of the borough. The County Structure Plan encourages the development of accommodation and facilities for tourists and so the Borough Council supports the development of sustainable tourism which has no adverse impact on the conservation of towns, villages and the countryside and the quality of life for residents. The diversification of rural industries, particularly farming, is an issue which the local planning authority will support in appropriate cases.

POLICY L2: TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Proposals for new tourism development, including visitor centres and attractions, will be permitted where:

• i) for tourism development that falls within one or more of the main town centre uses set out in paragraph 1.8 of PPS6, it can be demonstrated that a sequential approach based on paragraphs 2.44-2.46 of PPS6 has been adopted in selecting the site;
  ii) the proposal is accessible by a choice of transport;
  iii) the development would be visually unobtrusive and able to be screened in a manner which enhances the surrounding landscape; and
  iv) it is of a scale related to its setting.

6.10 Visitor accommodation is an important means of increasing tourism expenditure in the local economy. There is scope for extra accommodation, especially in the main towns. The overall strategy for development in the borough and the quality of the environment means that, as a general principle, new purpose-built holiday accommodation will not normally be permitted in the countryside. New accommodation will only be permitted which involves the change of use or conversion of existing buildings or is either integral or ancillary to a leisure or sporting facility, and such a use would not result in a detrimental impact.

POLICY L3: VISITOR ACCOMMODATION

Proposals for additional visitor accommodation within Housing Settlement Boundaries, including extensions, conversions and intensification of existing premises, will be permitted where the development will not have a detrimental impact on the environment and local amenity. In the case of new build, proposals will be required to where appropriate, satisfy the sequential approach to development in Policy DS2. Proposals for new visitor accommodation involving a “main town centre” use as defined in paragraph 1.8 of PPS6 will also be required to satisfy the sequential approach.

New holiday accommodation outside of Housing Settlement Boundaries will only be permitted if:

• i) it is provided through the conversion or change of use of existing buildings in accordance with Policy RU4; or
  ii) it is an integral part of, or ancillary to, a leisure or sporting facility and is essential for its successful operation and proposals are of a high standard of design and sympathetic use is made of materials traditional to the area.