A popular Rutland camping site can now take 20 campervans to meet demand from staycationers.

Wing Hall has received planning approval from Rutland County Council to Wing Hall to change the use of 20 tent pitches to take campervans on a 1.4ha site.

Mrs Robin Curley of Wing Hall, Wing Hall Drive, Wing, sought the replacement of approved tent pitches with campervan pitches on Field 3 of Wing Hall campsite.

The application said: "Wing Hall extends to 40 hectares (100 acres) of garden and fields which surrounds the Manor house which was built in 1891.

"Wing Hall is situated on the edge of the village, with the site overlooking woodland and agricultural fields. It is located between Oakham and Uppingham and is approximately 2 km from Rutland Water.

"The formation of lakes for angling was applied for and approved in July 1993, customers for which made use of a campsite which was started in the late 1970's.

"Over the years the site has modernised and evolved to provide enhanced facilities for visitors to the campsite including a shop/deli, fishing lakes, modern shower facilities and a restaurant."

The application continued: "The campsite now extends to several fields. The campsite occupies fields surrounding the manor house and offers basic facilities for a back to nature experience.

"It is a family site with groups of unsupervised young people not being allowed (other than supervised groups, i.e. Duke of Edinburgh Award). This maintains the tranquillity of the site.

"In response to requests from guests to provide a more comfortable alternative to camping, 6 shepherd huts were placed on the site."

The application further explained: "Following the outbreak of COVID 19, holidays in the UK have become more popular and the applicants are looking for best ways to make use of the existing campsite.

"Due to enquiries and current demands from customers this application is for the replacement of 20 tent pitches with 20 campervan pitches in Field 3 which will make use of the existing infrastructure (i.e. electricity and sanitary facilities) on the site.

"The camping site has been in situ for many years and provides employment for local people. This application is only seeking to add to the current permissions to accommodate camper vans which have become increasingly popular.

"Guest who arrive in camper vans in effect are little different to those that arrive in cars with a tent. In reality they have less impact as their accommodation is self contained.

"Camper Vans are a little more weather tolerant that camping so the use will help smooth out demand."

The application added: "There is a knock on benefit to the local community with customers enjoying local attractions and using local shopping facilities. Food sold from the campsite is sourced from local businesses.

"It is therefore considered that the campsite provides a sustainable rural tourism facility which supports the local economy and community. It is an established part of the 'fabric' for tourism in the area."

"The COVID 19 outbreak has seen an upsurge in UK holidays, in particular in camping and glamping sites and this permission seeks to amend that which exists to make best use of current demand.

"The replacement of tent pitches with campervan pitches will have no additional impact on the site than that which currently exists."

However, some neighbours expressed concerns to Rutland County Council about the roads being suitable for larger camper vans. They also raised concerns over impact on the surrounding area.

But Rutland Council planning staff noted the hall has no immediate neighbours.

Recommending approval, they concluded that the proposed development "would be in accordance with the development plan policies" and "would not materially harm the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers and would be acceptable in all other planning considerations. "

Their recommendation added: "The Council has taken into account all other matters, none of which outweigh the considerations that have led to it's decision."