A young people’s activity centre in north Shropshire is set to build 35 new glamping huts after getting the go-ahead from county planners.

Outdoor education provider PGL Travel had formal approval on its plans to replace a camp site on its Boreatton Park site near Baschurch with wooden cabin buildings this week, despite concerns from the parish council about traffic in the area.

The scheme will see 35 huts replace tent pitches on the 24-acre residential training and education activity centre, replacing land currently used for camping with fully serviced demountable cabins.

Baschurch Parish Council had objected to the application, echoing concerns from nearby residents that coaches coming to and from the site were already causing problems to the road network.

“Whilst we would normally support a local business upgrading it’s facilities we have some reservations about this plan,” said Baschurch Parish Council Clerk Anne Howls.

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“We have heard from local residents that the traffic issues around PGL are already acute, with coaches trying to navigate narrow country lanes, often in convoy, then can’t get past each other or other road users if travelling the other way. The danger to pedestrians in and around the hamlet of Stanwardine is of particular concern.”

A number of passing places on the road connecting the site to nearby Stanwardine were supposed to be created as part of an earlier scheme in 2018, but were not completed. In a report, Shropshire Council said they had received “assurances” from PGL that the passing places would be completed to support the application.

A supporting statement provided by PGL travel denied the development would put extra strain on the road network due to the cabins replacing a “like-for-like” number of tent pitches.

“The existing access point leading into the site is satisfactory and would not intensify in use as a result of the scheme which would see a like-for-like number of guests,” the statement said.

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“The proposed wooden cabins, of higher quality and greater comfort and security, will establish a marked upgrade of the accommodation offering will provide a better accommodation range, appealing to a greater variety of users and guests of the residential education institution.”

In 2022, PGL Travel was granted permission for 10 demountable cabins on the Baschurch site, but submitted the expanded application in July 2023. Under the current proposal the cabins will use existing facilities on the site, and would not contain kitchen or bathroom facilities.

“The wooden cabin units under this proposal do not include any self-sufficient facilities and host basic provision as sleeping units. The strict ‘sleeping provision’ provided by the wooden cabin units would not result in any material harm over and beyond the existing camping use,” they said.

The completion of a number of passing places was made a condition of approving the development, along with the submission of a lighting plan for the site and the siting of a number of bat and bird boxes.