Policy EMP5: Rural Tourism

Policy EMP5:  Rural Tourism

Proposals for sustainable tourism development which respect the character of the countryside (including guest accommodation and visitor facilities) will be permitted where:

1. It utilises an existing suitable building through change of use or conversion without the need for substantial rebuilding, extension or alteration; or
2. In the case of a new building, it forms part of an existing facility or cluster of permanent buildings and is of a scale appropriate to its location especially where it could have visual or other unacceptable adverse impacts on the National Landscape, chalk streams, heritage or the character and appearance of the area; New buildings which do not consolidate existing facilities or clusters of permanent buildings will require a robust justification, which demonstrates a need for the new building and that there are not existing buildings available which could meet the requirements of the proposed development in a practical and viable manner;
3. In the case of extensions to existing buildings, these are sympathetic to the existing building and character of the area; and
4. In all cases the scale of development is appropriate when considering the impacts on the local highway network and is accessible by sustainable and active means of travel wherever possible, linking to existing footpaths, cycleways and public transport networks.

Proposals for new or expanded existing camping (including glamping) and touring caravan sites will be permitted where the proposals are sympathetic to the character and visual quality of the area particularly where impacts on the National Landscape, chalk streams and heritage are concerned and any unacceptable impacts can be successfully mitigated.