ACCUSATIONS of favouritism to a councillor applying to build a holiday hut in Holt Heath have been rejected by the planners who recommended approval of the plans.

Councillor Dennis Pugh, of Holt Parish Council, rejected accusations that preferential treatment had been given to plans to convert a former shepherd’s hut into holiday accommodation.

Speaking at a meeting of Malvern Hills District Council’s Northern Area Planning Committee, he said: “Cllr Carol John, the applicant, was not consulted on this application.

“At a full Parish Council meeting on January 21, it was confirmed that the above application had been recommended for approval.

“The recommendation for approval was based on several issues, including the fact that Malvern Hills District Council had recently approved similar applications for Ockeridge Rural Retreats in the same area.

“The owners of Ockeridge Rural Retreats have objected to this planning application and in doing so have inferred that Holt Parish Council’s decision was influenced by the fact the applicant was a member of that council.

“This inference is not correct. All planning references are treated seriously and do not have a rubber stamp.

"In fact, a planning application for a log cabin on the same site as the shepherd’s hut was also recommended for refusal.”

The plans, to convert the hut at Rowley Farm, Ockeridge Lane, Holt Heath into holiday accommodation for visitors was approved by planners having been resubmitted from an earlier plan.

Originally, it had been planned to be two such huts, however, concerns were raised with the applicant surrounding its impact on the landscape, so the plans were changed to be just a single hut.

According to planning documents, the shepherd hut would be sited on wheels and constructed of timber cladding and black corrugated metal sheeting for the roof.

It would have a length of 6.71 metres and depth of 2.43 metres with the total height from ground level of 3.2 metres with a maximum floorspace of 17 square metres.

Speaking on behalf of the applicant, planning agent Josie Nott told the council the family runs a working farm on the site, and decided to diversify into holiday accommodation.

It was the success of this venture, she said, that led them to apply for the hut conversion.

She said: "In light of this success, they previously applied for a cabin, which was refused. They have now put forward a more sympathetic scheme."

Councillors voted unanimously to approve the application.