A former watercress farm could become a new glamping site. Plans have been submitted to Chichester District Council to turn the site, which was a watercress farm for over 100 years, into tourist accommodation. This comes after Spring Farm in Newells Lane, West Ashling, Chichester, stopped trading at the end of 2023 after costs associated with running the farm increased.
READ MORE: Three Sussex beaches among best dog-friendly places In the plans, submitted by IRUK Waste Planning and Consultancy Ltd (IRWPC) on behalf of the landowner Edward Scales, it is proposed that the site would have six camping pods. These would be offered for short-term holidays, with the site set to be open in school holidays and on bank holiday weekends between March and May, and October and December. The site would then be open full-time each year from June to September.
According to the plans, the six pods would be of "high-quality construction" and would be individual self-contained units with sleeping space for two adults. Each pod would also have its own kitchen and bathroom facilities, with a private external area housing individual woodfire hot tubs. Guests at the site, which will have its own parking, will be provided with welcome packs containing produce from local farm shops and businesses.
The plans also state there will be site rules to protect the nearest neighbouring properties, such as preventing the playing of amplified music externally from the pods and controlling the lighting at the s.