Monmouthshire Council refuses glamping proposal at Swallows Nest, Hardwick

Monmouthshire County Council has refused a planning application to convert paddock land at Swallows Nest, Ty’r Pwll, Parc Llettis Road, Hardwick, Abergavenny, into a glamping site. The decision follows a Planning Committee meeting on 1 July 2025, where councillors rejected the officer recommendation for approval and voted unanimously to refuse the application.

A video of the planning meeting can be found on YouTube.

For full planning documents and representations, visit: Monmouthshire Council Planning Portal.

The application

The planning application (Ref: DM/2022/01511) was submitted by Elizabeth Pengelly and proposed:

• Change of use of residential paddock to tourism use.
• Glamping accommodation: 4 shepherd huts and 4 bell tents.
• Ancillary structures: a timber washroom facility and a multipurpose animal shelter.
• New gated access and car parking for visitors.

Accommodation details

• Shepherd huts: 7.4m x 2.58m, curved metal roofs, max height 3.5m, two “luxury” huts with en-suite toilets, two eco versions relying on compost toilet.
  
• Bell tents: 5m diameter, max height 3m, relying on compost toilet within washroom.
  
• Washroom: moveable timber construction with compost toilet, shower, sink, and communal fridge/freezer (6m x 2.4m).
  
• Animal shelter: 27m², flat roof 2.5–2.8m high, currently housing alpacas.
  
• Car park: permeable hardstanding for 12 vehicles with native hedgerow screening.

Site context

• The site is a sloping paddock adjacent to a dwelling in Hardwick, descending 8 metres over 140 metres toward the B4598.
  
• Located within the Nutrient Sensitive Catchment Area of the River Usk Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
  
• Surrounding area: small fields, hedgerows, and scattered residential dwellings.
  
• Access: via narrow rural C24.15 lane connecting to B4598.

Public consultation and objections

Fifteen local residents and Gobion Fawr Community Council objected to the application. Key concerns included:

Residential amenity

• Potential noise, light, and activity disturbance from glamping units, hot tubs, and car park.
  
• Loss of privacy for neighbouring properties, particularly Amberleigh House.
  
• Concerns about litter, anti-social behaviour, and general disruption.

Visual impact

• Development would urbanize open countryside, reducing rural character and visual amenity.
  
• New car park, huts, and bell tents seen as unsightly and incompatible with existing landscape.

Traffic and access

• Increased vehicular traffic along a narrow lane, raising safety and inconvenience concerns.
  
• Concerns over access width, visibility splays, and proximity to private properties.

Biodiversity and environment

• Hedge and habitat loss along proposed access.
  
• Risk to local wildlife, including bats, birds, and hedgehogs.
  
• Foul drainage and runoff into the River Usk SAC raised environmental concerns.

Other concerns

• Potential health and safety risks for livestock.
  
• Questioned demand for tourism in the area.
  
• Disagreement over the temporary nature of washroom and glamping structures.

Officer assessment

Despite objections, officers initially recommended approval based on detailed planning evaluation.

1. Principle of development

• Policy S11 – Visitor Economy encourages sustainable tourism.
  
• Policy T2 limits permanent accommodation outside settlements but allows exceptions for sustainable tourism.
  
• Officers concluded that the proposal constituted sustainable, low-impact tourism, with potential benefits for local economy.

2. Design and landscape impact

• Shepherd huts and bell tents designed to blend with rural landscape.
  
• Additional landscaping and hedgerow planting proposed to screen car park and maintain visual amenity.
  
• Structures are largely movable and temporary, reducing long-term landscape impact.

3. Impact on residential amenity

• Distance of at least 35m from nearest dwelling.
  
• Proposed hedgerows would screen views of car park and units.
  
• Maximum occupancy limited to 28 people, controlled via planning condition.
  
• Officers noted seasonal use and small scale made significant disturbance unlikely.

4. Transport

• New gated access proposed with visibility splays of 2.4m x 22m.
  
• Car park for 12 vehicles, surfaced with Ecogrid to retain green appearance.
  
• MCC Highways raised no objection, subject to Section 184 agreement.
  
• Traffic increases considered minor and outside peak hours.

5. Biodiversity

• Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey identified species-poor grassland, hedgerows, and small buildings.
  
• Precautionary measures proposed for bats, reptiles, hedgehogs, and breeding birds.
  
• Additional hedgerow, tree, and wildflower meadow planting included to provide net biodiversity gain.
  
• Lighting plan required to prevent light spill affecting nocturnal species.

6. Green infrastructure

• New planting and habitat enhancements designed to increase biodiversity and mitigate loss of hedgerow.
  
• Long-term landscape management plan recommended.

7. Foul drainage

• Two shepherd huts served by existing septic tank.
  
• Remaining units served by compost toilet system.
  
• NRW and MCC Biodiversity Officer satisfied no increase in phosphate entering River Usk SAC.