A COUPLE has been given the go-ahead to use a ‘glamping pod’ in their garden in the countryside as holiday accommodation.
The nine metre long, 2.3m wide and 2.5m tall timber pod finished with timber shingles and matt black window and door frames is already in place in the garden of Beech Cottage which is south of The Narth village.
The property is within the Welsh historic environment body Cadw’s registered Lower Wye Valley historical landscape area and the Wye Valley National Landscape area of outstanding beauty.
The application, first made in November 2023, was described as “part retrospective” as the pod, which had been for private use, has been in place since that February when applicant Chris Stroud and his wife lived in it while restoring the cottage but it isn’t yet used for holiday accommodation.
One neighbour had objected to the plans disputing there is a right of way for vehicles to the cottage and pod along a bridleway, which would be further damaged by increased vehicle movements and said there would be no beneficial economic impact as there are no facilities in the area.
They also claimed the pod and visitors driving to it would increase light pollution in the area and said it was wrong to describe the pod as off grid as it is connected to mains electricity and water and the plans include a treatment plant.
Mr Stroud said there would be no external lights on the pod and the bridleway had been resurfaced with natural materials and said Beech Cottage has a “prescribed right of way” that also provides access to the woods beyond the pod.
Six letters in support of the application were also received by the planning department. One described the pod as “unique” and “a delightful addition to its natural setting”, with another stating the bridleway had been improved and it was also stated the pod would “attract visitors likely to spend money in local shops, pubs, and restaurants, such as The Lion in Trellech, which is within walking distance through the woods”.
Monmouthshire County Council planning officer David Wong said in a report, which approved the application, no objection around visual impact had been raised by the Wye Valley National Landscape or Cadw and there was a “significant distance” between it and neighbouring properties.
He also said a request, by Trellech United Community Council, that a condition prevents parking on the access track leading to the pod couldn’t be enforced as it outside the application site but noted a parking area is provided and traffic movements would be “minimal”.
