Plans to expand a holiday home site near Ashby have been put to North West Leicestershire District Council.

A scheme for 10 new holiday units - and the part-conversion of an agricultural building to a wedding and function venue - has been proposed for Hill Farm at Willesley Woodside,

Hill Farm is already home to the Hastings Retreat holiday homes next to the Hicks Lodge Cycle Centre, and applicants John and Dawn Jacques now want to add more facilities.

A Design and Access Statement from Andrew Large surveyors, which accompanies the application, says the existing holiday business, which was established in 2013 and up and running by 2020, has proved to be 'extremely successful' despite the Covid pandemic.

The current site is on 76 acres with sizeable lake to the south eastern section and has a wind turbine which generates more than enough electricity to power the facility, with excess sold back into the grid. 

The 10 new holiday units will be designed to reflect the woodland character of the National Forest.

The report says that, considering Mr and Mrs Jacques only started operating in 2020, the business is 'extremely well established and should be considered a key asset in North West Leicestershire's Tourism Industry, as well as the wider National Forest'. 

It adds that the pandemic created a spike of interest and demand for holiday accommodation within the UK.

The statement also says: "On top of the direct employment that the development will bring, the additional tourism will help sustain local shops and businesses in the immediate area, indirectly benefiting their viability and continued employment."

Plans show there would be five timber holiday units over two 'zones', with the lodges built among the canopies of the existing woodland, which was planted by the applicants not long after purchasing the site. 

The reports admits the proposed wedding venue will 'unquestionably create some level of noise late into the evening'. 

But is also says that, with its potential effect on neighbouring and surrounding properties, the venue has been purposefully designed with the social rooms towards the southern elevation, directly away from the closest neighbours. 

The venue, and any function which it may be used for, will most likely operate between the hours of 12:00 – 01:00. 

Adjacent to the southern section of the site is small cluster of residential properties on the outskirts of Donisthorpe, with the report adding the closest dwelling has been measured approximately 550m away from the venue. 

The statement adds: "This is a sufficient distance which means that the impact of noise will be minimal. 

"Directly between the venue and dwellings is an existing woodland belt which stretches to 80m in width. The existing woodlands will ensure that the site is sufficiently screened for the noise expected to be generated by any aspect of the proposal.

"Any venue that provides weddings will also have to be granted a license by the council, which will restrict all times for drinks, music, and the period in which the event must conclude. These restrictions are specifically in place to limit the impact of venues alike on surrounding neighbours."

The application will now be considered by District Council planning officers.