The owners of a farm and caravan park who applied to the council to extend and provide space for an additional 61 caravans on their land have had their plans turned down.

Mr and Mrs Hudson wanted to change some existing agricultural land at Lower Greenhill Caravan Park in Kelbrook Road, Salterforth, into another caravan pitch which would hold 61 caravans.

They also want to build a shower block on the site.

The application was initially lodged with Pendle Council in June last year, but was extended to allow for an environmental report to be compiled, with further amended plans lodged in October.

However, Pendle Council refused the application despite the planning committee recommending it for approval in January and despite a number of letters of support for the proposals and several amended plans which were submitted in February.

A planning statement lodged with the application read: “Lower Greenhill Caravan Park is a family-owned caravan park, and Mr and Mrs Hudson have invested heavily in the business since they took ownership in 2010.

“A development of 27 new static caravan holiday lodges was approved in 2014 which was subsequently implemented.

“A further extension to the park to provide 20 touring caravan pitches and 36 static caravan holiday lodges was allowed on appeal in 2019.

"That development is near completion and the demand for touring caravan/camper van pitches has far exceeded the available supply.

“There is also strong demand for the static caravan holiday lodges, but for a number of reasons (principally Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic) the supply of static caravan holiday lodges has been extremely limited and the applicants have not yet been able to secure sufficient static caravans to fill all of the approved static caravan pitches.

“In time however, the approved static caravans will be provided to meet the demand.

“The applicants have available land to increase their provision of touring caravan/campervan pitches.

“This will meet the demands of visitors who wish to stay in an attractive location at Salterforth, providing benefits to the local economy through increased overnight stays and spend.

“As part of the development a new amenity/shower block is also proposed to meet the requirements of greater visitor numbers.

“The land to be used for the touring caravans/camper van pitches has been carefully chosen to ensure the impacts on the local landscape are minimised.”

There was no decision notice posted on the council’s planning portal but the plans were refused on April 3.