Plan for holiday pods on seafront causes controversy

The beach pods planned for Hayling Island Picture: HGP Architects

Hayling Golf Club has applied to Havant Borough Council to build eight accommodation pods at the north-west corner of the club, close to the mouth of Langstone Harbour.

Some residents are outraged by the plan, branding it an eyesore, but a local councillor has argued it will benefit the island’s tourism.

Each holiday unit would accommodate up to six people and be powered by solar panels, as well as two ‘small-scale’ wind turbines powering the entire site.

Several people have written to the council to voice their concerns.

Susan Wood said: ‘It is totally out of character for that tiny corner of the golf club/beach area. To think that each unit is built to float in case of flood is actually dangerous as no control could be had over the units if they were ever to be free floating in the harbour.

‘A wind turbine would be a grotesque feature on this corner, not to mention noisy.’

Raymond and Margaret Stewart wrote: ‘This could potentially mean 48 people at any time could be sitting on the roof terraces, partying, listening to music and making noise in general.

‘We do not want to lose our peaceful existence here.’

A letter from residents Geoffrey Atkins, Nicholas Atkins and Lucinda Sheffield said: ‘The modern glass reinforced plastic design of the units is ugly.’

An earlier set of plans for holiday pods on the same site caused similar controversy three years ago, but were approved by the council’s planning committee, which went against officers’ recommendations at the time.

The plans have now been revised and are out for consultation until next Wednesday.

Hayling West councillor Andy Lenaghan said it would be difficult for planners to object to the proposals, given the approval three years ago.

He added: ‘This would add to the tourist attraction of Hayling as a destination.’

A report submitted by the developers states: ‘We anticipate that this proposal will become a welcome and distinctive addition to the prominent location of the Ferry Point and create an important “gateway” to Hayling Island from the west.’