King Charles has been given permission to build a 25-acre luxury glamping site on his royal Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
The monarch can now add 15 ‘safari tents’ to the Sandringham Estate Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite – but they can only be used by ‘short stay’ holidaymakers.
The site which will play host to the tents boasting their own verandas and built-in barbecues is in the heart of the estate, about six miles from King’s Lynn, and currently has 138 pitches including 11 tents.
Plans submitted to King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Council have now been approved and allow King Charles to extend the site to create 28 new all-weather touring caravan pitches.
He can also expand to 12 camping pitches and 15 glamping safari tent pitches, as well as four premium pitches and two new accessible pitches.
King Charles can now add 15 ‘safari tents’ to the Sandringham Estate Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite after winning permission from King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Council
He can also expand to 12 camping pitches and 15 glamping safari tent pitches, as well as four premium pitches and two new accessible pitches at the Sandringham estate (pictured)
The plans for the glamping site have been published on the local authority’s website
He has received further permission to make improvements to existing pitches, as well as enlarge and refurbish the existing reception building and create two new toilet block buildings.
But the planning consent comes with the condition that the glamping tents can ‘only be occupied for holiday purposes and shall be made available for short stay holiday accommodation’ of up to 28 days per visit.
The letter from Stuart Ashworth, assistant director environment and planning at the council, says the glamping tents ‘shall not be occupied as a person’s sole or main place of residence’.
He added: ‘The owners/operators shall maintain an up-to-date register of visits/occupation and shall make this available at all reasonable times to the Local Planning Authority.’
The council has also stated that vegetation clearance can only be done outside of the nesting bird season, which runs from March to August.
Alternatively, owners must ‘otherwise follow an inspection no more than 48 hours before works commence, ‘to confirm nesting birds are absent’.
If bats are discovered while the original toilet block is being demolished, then work should ‘cease and advice should be sought immediately’.
The plans include modernising the reception area to include a shop and converting an existing pitch to allow for a pop-up takeaway van, which could provide an evening meal for members.
King Charles, pictured at Windsor Castle on May 3 this year, has been granted permission to make improvements to existing pitches at his Sandringham estate in Norfolk
A general view of Sandringham House in Norfolk (pictured)
The new glamping site will be created at the north corner of the site, within a wooded area, with a mix of different sized Safari tents, sleeping up to six people.
The tents will feature a decked area at the front, with a veranda, and a sofa, dining table and kitchenette inside.
The design and access proposal, submitted by The Caravan and Motorhome Club, states: ‘These will be carefully positioned within the woodland so as not to damage the existing trees nor reduce the visual amenity of the site from neighbours.
It added: ‘The Sandringham Estate Club Campsite is one of the most popular on the network and is often fully booked.
‘The proposal is to extend the touring and camping facility to the south west of the existing site as the land lends itself naturally due to its topography and by being easily accessible from the existing road network.
‘This area will be home to a mixture of all weather, serviced, premium and universally accessible pitches which will appeal to a wide range of visitors. The pitches are all at least 3m in separation to ensure that fire cannot spread between units.
‘The proposed experience freedom village of 15 safari tents are to be built into the existing sloping gradient that will have its own woodland feel.
‘The Caravan and motorhome club have been operating these types of accommodation for sometime and they have proved to be extremely popular with visitors who do not own their own caravans.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are pictured here attending church at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Christmas Day last year
The Sandringham estate’s campsite has been described by council officials as ‘one of the most popular on the network’, being ‘often fully booked’
A new maze was recently unveiled at the estate as part of the King’s Sandringham makeover
‘Sandringham is also an ideal setting for safari tents as they will blend into the existing landscape. The overall intention is to offer not only more pitching to enhance visitors to the site and surrounding area but to also offer a wide range of options that will further appeal to a wider demographic of visitors.’
The Sandringham site has been occupied since the Elizabethan era, when a manor house was built, which was replaced in 1771 by the Hoste Henley family.
In 1862, Sandringham and 8,000 acres of land was purchased for Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, as a country home for him and his future wife Princess Alexandra of Denmark.
It has remained in the Royal family ever since and upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the house passed to King Charles III.
In 1977 Queen Elizabeth II opened the house up to members of the public to commemorate her Silver Jubilee.
from:www.dailymail.co.uk
published 2017-07-14 09:40:22
