A bid to build houses on a shut-down campsite has been quashed following a planning appeal.

The inspector said the "loss of visitor accommodation" could not be justified despite Braggs Lane Campsite in Herne Bay shutting four years ago when the owners retired.

In July 2023, they launched a plan to build five two-storey homes on the site off Braggs Lane, but it was rejected by Canterbury City Council four months later.

They subsequently lodged an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, but this was also turned down on October 15.

The owners, a Mr and Mrs Newman, said the unpredictable British weather and an isolated location had made the business unviable.

Documents submitted on their behalf stated: “The challenge faced by any camping operation is that of the unpredictability of the British weather and this unpredictability continues to play a part with the small operation in Herne Bay.

“The site is not well positioned to provide easy access to popular tourist destinations and the site lacks contemporary and extensive facilities.

“The operation at Braggs Lane simply cannot compete with larger operations which can provide these facilities and much more. This has meant that the camping operation has been reduced.”

Four years ago, the campsite shut and the owners diversified to allow for caravan storage.

“But, again, returning to the weather, the caravan storage areas are in the open fields and if the weather does not permit caravans to be collected, owners have to leave them on site,” the report said.

The documents state the storage use had also been reduced, and the owners eventually decided to retire and shut the site for good four years ago.

However, the Planning Inspectorate has said the scheme would result in a harmful loss of tourist accommodation, and called the development “wholly out of place”.

The inspector's report states: “The application was refused on the grounds that the site lies outside of any identified settlement, resulting in an unsustainable form of development.

It was also refused on the unjustified “loss of visitor accommodation” and failure to mitigate impacts on nearby ancient woodland.

They added that Braggs Lane is a country location with sporadic housing.

The report states: “Five substantial residential properties grouped together in this relatively remote location would be wholly out of place.

“They would suburbanise the countryside and would stand out in an unexpected, unwelcome and jarring fashion because of their scale and siting.

“The material considerations outlined above do not indicate that a decision should be made other than in accordance with the development plan.

“Therefore, for the reasons given, the appeal should not succeed.”