Go-ahead likely for lodges on historic park estate

A HOLIDAY park for “staycation families” in the grounds of the former home of a world famous industrialist looks set to be approved.

The scheme to build scores of holiday lodges in the grounds of Grinkle Park in the North York Moors National Park appears to have overcome planners’ concerns that it would “irreversibly change the character and integrity” of the estate near Easington.

Classic Lodges hotel group has submitted a revised application for 47 holiday lodges and three holiday cottages spread over a wider area of the estate, which was developed by 19th century shipbuilder and Liberal MP Sir Charles Palmer.

He helped solve the issue of transporting coal from the North to London by building the first iron screw collier and several other steam-colliers.

The firm’s original 57-lodge proposal was sent back for reconsideration over concerns about its scale, density, location and changes to the lake and loss of woodland.

Members of the North York Moors National Park Authority felt the scheme would damage Grinkle Park, which extends to nearly 390 acres, representing one of the larger country house landscapes in the area.

But an officers’ report to the planning committee states following numerous revisions, the proposal has been recommended for approval. Local councillors say the scheme is vital for the area’s economy and the Loftus Community Forum said it would enrich the area’s amenities and increase visitor numbers.

A forum spokesman said: “This will benefit an area of high unemployment by offering employment to local people. Recent reductions of over 200 in mining jobs at Boulby Mine have meant redundancies and hardship. The benefits will be felt by the coastal communities between Saltburn and Whitby as tourism increases and the wider national park.”