PLANS have been put forward to expand a holiday caravan site after a ‘significant’ rise in demand for staycation trips due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bosses behind the Lingwood Park in Cartmel Road, Grange, have submitted a proposal to South Lakeland District Council to expand their ‘thriving’ caravan site by 25 per cent.

The applicants, Mr and Mrs B Saunders, proposed the addition of ten more caravan pitches to the site to cater to a ‘staycation boom’.

The design and access statement states: “Lingwood Park is a thriving, well established holiday caravan site, with 40 approved pitches, all of which are occupied by caravans.

“The site has a waiting list for new residents, and the four most recent pitches were let immediately. In the staycation boom that has occurred during the pandemic, the demand for pitches has grown significantly and demand is easily outstripping supply on this high quality site.”

The proposed site is currently used as grazing land, with access available through the existing caravan site.

Plans stipulate that the visual impact of the caravans would be ‘minimal’.

They state: “The wider visual impact of the caravans is minimal, and given there are a number of more prominent sites in the area, including Low Fellgate which had recent permission to develop much closer to Cartmel Road, this proposal is not harmful to the wider character.

“In under five years, the existing landscaping will mature and the site will be fully invisible.”

The plans also state that the expansion will create a ‘vital form of income’ which will generate ‘real benefits’ for the area.

The proposal states: “This is an application for a 25 per cent increase in caravans in phase one, which provide a vital form of income for the area.

“Lingwood Park is a popular caravan park with a waiting list for pitches of over 20 families, and it last expanded in 2014. “The site owners maintain the grounds to a very high standard with high levels of planting and controls over the appearance of vans and decking.

“Some residents have enjoyed visiting the area so much, staying on this site that they have bought a house and moved permanently into the area, helping to support the local community and economy. Most residents buy their shopping in Grange and use the local restaurants, cafes, and facilities. This is exactly what the council is seeking to support – sustainable tourism that generate real benefits to the local area. The site is well occupied and popular and needs to expand.”