PLANS for eight log cabins complete with hot tubs in Cheshire West have been refused by the council.

An application had been submitted to build the holiday lodges – which would offer three bedrooms, an open plan living area and outdoor seating on a rear veranda – on land off the A54 Chester Road near Little Budworth.

But concerns were raised about the location of the application site and its access to nearby amenities, as well as the potential harm to the 'rural landscape'.

In a report recommending the application be refused, a council planning officer said: "The proposed development of a new tourist accommodation providing eight holiday lodges is considered to be unacceptable in the open countryside location.

"The proposal site is located away from identified sentiments that provide a good level of services and facilities.

"As a result, any holiday maker would rely heavily on private vehicles to access these.

"As result of the type, design and layout of the proposed lodges, as well as the formal access and associated tree removal, the scheme would also result in harm to the wider rural landscape.

"The scheme would provide modest economic benefits, neutral social benefits (given the nature and turnover of occupants) and harmful environmental impacts.

"As such, while highways concerns have been overcome during the application process, the principle of the type of development proposed in this location is considered unsustainable."

Each log cabin would have provided a kitchen, dining room and lounge, a master bedroom, with en suite toilet and bathtub, and two smaller double bedrooms with a shared shower cubicle and toilet.

A design and access statement, prepared on behalf of the applicants, said: "Covid-era restrictions in the global travel industry are encouraging increasing numbers of British people to holiday in the UK.

"This growing demand in the domestic holiday market is creating opportunities for the provision of overnight visitor accommodation.

"One such opportunity is the proposed development of eight luxury holiday lodges near Tarporley.

"The proposed development would benefit the Cheshire West economy whilst complementing the wide-ranging existing tourist visitor accommodation in the area."