Brean Leisure Park expansion could house Hinkley C workers (From This is The West Country)

Brean Leisure Park expansion could house Hinkley C workers

11:23am Thursday 27th September 2012 in Somerset

AN expansion of a holiday park could meet customer demand - and provide accommodation for Hinkley Point C workers.

The owners of Brean Leisure Park are seeking planning permission for 58 extra lodges or caravans on a disused area of the park's golf course.

They say the plans will create jobs, provide a much better experience for visitors, and could provide temporary homes for nuclear staff.

In a supporting statement for the plans, they say: “The proposals planned are to address customer demand and to provide comparable competition with other holiday parks.

“The existing holiday park has developed over a long period of time and parts of the site have now become outdated.”

The statement says the current lodges and static caravans do not “meet the expectations of some of the customers who would prefer more space, privacy, exclusivity and better quality accommodation.

“This project will provide a much-improved experience in keeping with newer standards and customer requirements.

“Furthermore, there is a future potential use that the lodges/caravans could provide much needed accommodation for staff employed in the construction of the proposed C reactor at Hinkley nuclear power station.”

The owners cite evidence from West Somerset and Sedgemoor District Council that accommodation for 3,500 workers will be needed, but only 2,000 beds may be available in the area.

The statement continues: “It is considered that the development proposal could assist in providing the workforce accommodation.”

The development could lead to six extra full-time staff being taken on, plus more part-time cleaners.