Holiday cabins plan lodged for woodland on Cholmondeley Estate
'The proposed development is tucked deep into the woodland'
Cholmondeley Estate near Nantwich(Image: Lanarca)
Sixty-nine holiday cabins are proposed for Moss Wood on the Cholmondeley Estate near Nantwich. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) screening report has been submitted to both Cheshire East and Cheshire West & Chester councils by Lanarca on behalf of Wyld Cabins in partnership with Cholmondeley Estate.
A planning application is expected at a later date. The document states: “The proposals comprise mixed use with forestry alongside the installation of 69 short-break sustainably manufactured holiday cabins and minimal associated supporting services.
“The scheme is designed to offer ultra-low impact tourist accommodation, promoting the countryside as a calming place for peace, personal reflection and wellbeing. A small service cabin for guests and three wellness pods complement the cabins.”
Moss Wood is a commercially managed forest which is located south of Bickerton Road on the Cholmondeley Estate. The woodland area falls within both the Cheshire East and Cheshire West administrative areas.
The report states: “The proposal’s site has been carefully selected by the landowner to meet the carefully specified retreat characteristics of Wyld Cabins. Central to the Wyld Cabins objectives are the principles of exclusivity and privacy, together with discovery – so the proposed development is tucked deep into the woodland, and is encompassed by a very large woodland and landscape buffer to all sides.”
It adds: “Site selection for each cabin is individually curated, to ensure that areas of sensitivity are avoided. Glades are selected for cabin locations – substantially avoiding tree loss, and undulating or wet areas of the site are also not selected. Proposals will include new plantings, including new tree planting and a woodland and biodiversity management plan to significantly enhance the woodland setting, its vitality, biodiversity and long-term sustainability.”
EIAs consider the environmental effects of major development proposals and help councils decide whether to grant planning permission. Developers can check if they need an EIA by requesting a screening opinion from the council before they submit a planning application.
The report, from the applicant, states that, following a detailed review and evaluation, ‘it is clearly and evidentially concluded that there are no impacts of significance which will arise and an environmental impact assessment will therefore not be required’.
The EIA report can be viewed on the planning portal on Cheshire East Council’s website. The application number is 26/0500/EIA.