A new 60-space car park will be built on the edge of Melbourne - but there are concerns over pressure from parking tourists and the "defacing" of a tranquil area.

The plans, submitted by the Melbourne Hall Estate, will see a 60-space car park built in Blackwell Lane, directly opposite the historic property and an allotment site.

South Derbyshire District Council planning officers have approved the plans through delegated powers, with the issue not "called in" for a decision by councillors, which is what usually happens when a number of objections are raised by residents as has happened in this case.

The plans mark another phase of the redevelopment of land within the estate's ownership, including within its own grounds, in a bid to safeguard its survival, financial viability and ongoing upkeep.

It follows a glamping site run by comedian Johnny Vegas, the closure of the Pool Cottage care home and conversion into a five-bed house, and the rejection of plans to demolish a now-disused community centre site and replace it with five homes.

Other businesses have also set up shop on-site and the venue now hosts a wide range of events.

The planned car park would include electronic barriers to prevent access out of hours and number-plate recognition cameras to monitor compliance.

A statement from the Melbourne Hall Estate, submitted with its application, details: "There is a demonstrated need for additional car parking in Melbourne which is reflected in historic surveys and also in the Parking Peat Survey included with this application.

"In addition the need to improve car parking is incorporated in Melbourne's Draft Neighbourhood Plan.

Comedian Johnny Vegas set up a glamping site at Melbourne Hall earlier this year. Photo: Supplied

"The benefits that will accrue within the core of the conservation area will outweigh the limited impact upon this peripheral area and the overall significance of the effect of this development has been found to be moderate and based upon recognised landscape and visual assessment guidance, it is considered to be acceptable.

"The proposed change of use from agriculture to a car park will [fill] an identified shortfall of parking in the town and relieve pressure in particular on the area around Church Square and the eastern side of the village."

The now-approved car park was reduced from 80 spaces to 60 after talks with council officers before the scheme was submitted.

This included comments from the council's conservation officer fearing the car park would "further urbanise this site" along with the lack of a study to show the need for more parking, the felling of trees and a layout which had "maximum visual impact".

The estate says alternatives to the gates and cameras were considered, including free parking and a manned entrance.

It writes: "A manned entrance faces its own challenges and would require a number of personnel to cover the operation. A free car park could result in vehicles being left there long term and also render the site open to abuse including fly-tipping. The barrier system would enable the site to be appropriately controlled and managed."

Lighting would not be provided in the car park so as to "avoid intrusive columns and lamps and it will retain a 'dark space' on the village edge".

Residents objecting to the proposals had written: "It is considered the proposal will deface the last remaining entry into Melbourne which is unchanged. The tranquil street scene and approach will be lost."

Opposing neighbours also expressed concerns about the number of visitors to Melbourne Hall and the size of events being proposed, which could impact highway safety and cause disturbance to residents.

They also feared approval of the car park development would pave the way for future building on the site.

This is due to plans from the estate for 15 homes on the site being turned down by the council in 2016, and dismissed at appeal, with the car park scheme not using the whole of the plot.

Planning officers, approving the scheme, wrote: "It is proposed that the car park would be managed and predominantly used by visitors to Melbourne Hall and the associated visitor centre, where a number of independent businesses and traders are based, although associated visits may also be made to other shops and businesses in Melbourne.

"As well as supporting the local economy, the revenue from visitors and tourists plays an important role in allowing the Melbourne Hall estate to remain financially viable and carry out the ongoing care and maintenance of the important historic assets.

"Increased visitor numbers are therefore to be encouraged, however, as detailed in the parking survey, the scale of the operations at Melbourne Hall is now clearly starting to conflict with the amenity of the village itself in terms of the resulting traffic congestion and lack of parking for residents.

"The provision of the proposed car park, which is very close to the hall but just outside the main town, is part of the long-term plan to manage these visitor numbers and it is considered that the public benefits of this outweigh the less-than-significant harm resulting from the car park."