A row is brewing over plans to establish a new caravan park in the Ayrshire countryside which was previously refused by the local authority.
Ayrshire Live can reveal that an application to site caravans on agricultural land near Coylton has been made to the powerful Caravan and Motorhome Club.
And we can further reveal that a legal loophole in 1960s legislation means South Ayrshire Council are powerless to stop the development - if the applicants are afforded ‘Certified Location’ status by the Caravan and Motorhome Club.
The initial application sought permission from the council for a change of use of agricultural land to form a holiday park; build eight holiday lodges, install a reception/amenity block and form 20 hard-standing pitches for campervans and or tourers.
Part of the overall proposals sought permission to install 32 car parking spaces too.
The site lies on land at Belston Holdings, Ayr, to the east of the B744 and approximately 1.5 miles from the A77 at Holmston Roundabout.
The proposals were, however, refused by South Ayrshire Council in October - despite the applicant, Mr D Green, claiming it would “create employment” and provide “first class self-catering holiday accommodation in the heart of the Ayrshire countryside.”
In refusing the application, South Ayrshire Council said the plans would result in an “incongruous feature” resulting in a “detrimental visual impact on the established rural landscape character and setting at the locale.”
The local authority also said the proposed development lay in an “unsustainable location” and “not connected” to local footpaths, cycle paths or local bus or rail routes and “did not encourage” active travel.
Now a scaled down version of the proposals, which includes a “small, low impact five-pitch site,” featuring caravans, motorhomes, trailer tents and roof tents has been mooted.
It is proposed they would be for the “exclusive use” of Caravan and Motorhome Club members and the plans have been sent to the organisation for consideration.
One of the objectors to the original proposals says this latest application to the Caravan and Motorhome Club, is a “cynical ploy” to bypass South Ayrshire Council’s planners.
The source said: “There are several potential developments for caravan sites around Coylton and this one is of particular interest.
“This applicant previously applied for planning permission and was rejected on grounds of safety, access etc.
“Now it seems there is a 1960 legislation that creates a loophole which enables the development, in smaller scale, to go ahead and bypass local authority via the Caravan and Motorhome Club.
“It’s basically a cynical ploy to get round planning requirements using the Caravan and Motorhome Club.”
Now objectors have enlisted the help of Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley MSP, Elena Whitham, to try to stop the development.
A spokesperson for the MSP confirmed that she has written to the Caravan and Motorhome Club and asked that they “consider the reasons for refusal” by South Ayrshire Council whilst they “assess the proposed site.”
It is understood that the Caravan and Motorhome Club holds a Certificate of Exemption under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, which enables them to grant ‘Certified Location’ status to applications.
This also means that, under the Town and Country (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992, planning permission is not required and ‘not affected’ by any potential planning enforcement notices.
South Ayrshire Council confirmed that it would be up to the Caravan and Motorhome Club to “consider the impact of a Certificated Location on the landscape.”
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