PLANS have been unveiled for four ‘holiday pods’ to be built partially underground to allow fishing groups to stay next to a pond on the Great Bradley Estate, near Withypool.

John Simpson, from the estate, wants to sink the accommodation pods into a bank alongside Bradley Pond a mile outside Withypool to diversify his farm business in a sustainable way.

His agent, Naomi Jackson, of XL Planning Ltd, said the pond was well-stocked with trout and had become popular within the local and wider area, particularly with fishing groups and anglers who regularly used it.

Miss Jackson said: “As a result, there has been a great demand and interest for additional holiday accommodation on site, particularly in close proximity to the pond where visitors can enjoy a unique fishing holiday experience. The accommodation will allow guests to enjoy private use of the pond in a secluded and private environment.”

She said subterranean pods had been chosen to provide a unique and alternative form of accommodation which was ‘low impact’ and would not cause visual harm to the site.

Bookings for an existing holiday cottage on the farm showed high demand so it would not appropriately serve fishing groups and anglers who sought smaller single units of accommodation next to the pond.

The project represented a sustainable form of rural economic development and farm diversification which differed to that already available while providing all of the required key facilities and amenities.

Miss Jackson said: “The visual impact of the development will be limited with the site well screened on all of its boundaries and the site benefitting from the sloping topography of the landscape.

“This allows the cabins to remain largely out of view from public vantage points, the adjoining highway, and any neighbouring land.”

Mr Simpson has applied to Exmoor National Park Authority for change of use planning permission for the land.