Plan to turn dog walking field into holiday retreat rejected

The owners of Merrywell Dog Exercising Paddock in Offenham, near Evesham, had wanted to turn it into a weekend retreat instead.

But Wychavon District Council said allowing the development of visitor accommodation in the location would conflict with planning policy.

A shepherd’s hut in the paddock, in Merry Lane, is currently used for tea-making and toilet facilities, but had been seen by the owners as having the potential to be converted into a small living space for holiday-makers.

LOCATION: The dog walking field is off Merry Lane in Offenham (Image: Mr and Mrs Langwith)

They said in a cover letter to planning officers: “The shepherds hut and paddock will provide a discreet, dog friendly retreat for two people visiting the area on short breaks and weekend stays.

“The paddock and shepherd’s hut will cease to operate as a dog exercise facility and will instead be available for sole use by holidaying customers.”

The letter says the field, which has a hardstanding area with parking for two cars, is used “infrequently” by owners and dogs.

A similar proposal, which sought to run the paddock as both a holiday let and a dog paddock simultaneously, was rejected a couple of years ago.

Looking at the latest plans, Wychavon planning officers said the shepherd’s hut would have “limited impact” on the rural setting of the site or to neighbours, adding that there were no known issues in terms of highways safety.

But they said: “The site lies beyond a settlement boundary as defined under the South Worcestershire Development Plan and is in an area of open countryside.”

The South Worcestershire Development Plan is a policy document used by Wychavon, Malvern Hills and Worcester councils to inform planning decisions.

Planning officers added: “The proposal would not meet any of the exceptions and consequently would be restricted within the open countryside.”