New Campsite To Open Within 'Short Walking Distance' Of Three Tourist Attractions

A new motorhome campsite will open within ‘short walking distance’ of three Isle of Wight tourist attractions.

The council has granted planning permission to Springfield Leisure IOW to open a ‘quality tourism enterprise’ at Heath Farm off Staplers Road, near Butterfly World, the Island Riding Centre and the Monkey Haven.

Approved plans include the surfacing of private ways, installing a sealed toilet waste tank, electric points, lighting, a shed, fencing, drainage and highway improvements.

Heath Farm has been used in ‘recent decades for a variety of storage uses’, according to a Design and Access Statement from Springfield Leisure’s agent Plan Research.

It said:

“Including Butterfly World, the Island Riding Centre and the Monkey Haven, there are three tourist attractions within a short walking distance of the proposed campsite.

“While there are a number of camping or ‘glamping’ businesses operating on the Island, our client has targeted the niche market of motorhome owners with this proposal.

"These vehicles normally have insulation and heating, potentially extending the tourism season to year-round provision, as envisaged by Island Plan policy SP4.

“Our client is willing to invest in the proposed campsite with associated access improvements to create a quality tourism enterprise.

“He would be willing to provide biodiversity net gain with a planting scheme designed to attract wildlife to the site, the details of which could be controlled by condition if this planning application is approved.”

Explaining the consent, planners said:

“The development of a site of motorhomes would attract a niche component of the holiday market not well served on the Island.

“The tourism industry has struggled on the Island since the pandemic and although the site is small, the proposals would contribute to the council’s aim of supporting and developing the tourism offer.”

Ten conditions were added to the approval for legal and planning policy compliance, highway safety, environmental protection and mitigation and supporting the tourist economy.