The owner of a boatyard in Swanwick will appeal against Fareham Borough Council which twice refused an application for eight self-catering caravans to be built for sailing enthusiasts’ short term stay.
Tim Hiscock, owner of Eastlands Boatyard on the River Hamble, has spent around £10,000 in applying to have the 40ft by 20ft wooden chalet-style caravans on an acre of land at the site in Coal Park Lane for sailors to use and store their trailers while out on the water.
He said it would bring extra revenue for the business and provide a place for families to stay and enjoy the water.
He was refused planning permission last year for the caravans, which cost £10,000 each, after councillors believed the site was on countryside land which would be visible to the public.
After changing the plans to be outside the countryside boundary and to include vegetation to screen the chalets councillors at a planning meeting still refused. So Mr Hiscock is in the process of lodging an appeal this week.
He said: “I will be appealing. I don’t have much choice. I’ve spent so much money getting it this far.
“We addressed all the issues the council gave. One of the main issues was that it was outside the planning line. We’ve condensed it so it’s now within the planning line. We’ve included planting schemes to hide everything so no-one could see it from Coal Park Lane.”
The work in total would cost about £1m. Mr Hiscock said customers are limited on places to stay in Swanwick and the surrounding area because not all hotels guesthouses allow wet sailing gear and equipment.
He said “There are lots of people that have got trailer boats who come from other parts of the country and use the facilities on the river. They have to pay harbour fees so that will help Fareham Borough Council.
“You can’t really turn up to a guesthouse with a 24 foot trailer. You’ve got to eat out all the time and it makes it very expensive.
“We’re trying to diversify into other areas that we could help the local economy. We don’t need it to sustain ourselves but at the moment things are tough.
“We’d be employing another three staff. People would still be using the restaurants and visiting local attractions, bringing money into the local economy.”
Councillors were shown images of the plans and voted against a site visit for the proposed development.
Councillor David Swanbrow, who represents the Sarisbury ward where the boatyard is sited, said: “The Navigator welcomes yachties staying. There’s accommodation available for people. So I don’t think there’s a need for this to be honest.”
But Councillor Paul Whittle said: “There is an opportunity to be supportive of quite a discrete development opportunity that would be in keeping with the businesses in the area.”
Six councillors voted against the plans and three were in favour of it, meaning it was rejected.