ATLANTIC Farm in Bude hope they will soon be able to offer people the chance to re-live their childhood by staying in one of their newly designed raised glamping pods — or Sky Pods as they are calling them, writes Ryan Cox.

The planning application, submitted by Metters and Wellby Ltd on behalf of the Atlantic Farm campsite, was discussed by Bude-Stratton Town Council’s planning committee earlier this month.

The campsite already boasts 17 glamping pods, a campsite, five holiday cottages, a tree house holiday unit, farm shop, barbecue facilities, craft studio and other ancillary buildings associated with the site, where visitors can enjoy an eco-friendly getaway.

But now they are hoping to add a number of raised pods that will provide an opportunity for visitors to climb above ground level, along the raised walkway and up into their timber-clad homes for the night.

The ‘Design and Access’ statement submitted by the applicants says Atlantic Farm aims to achieve a memorable holiday experience in a ‘one of a kind’ environment.

It goes on to explain how the raised pods will look: ‘The sky pods are to be constructed on steel stands using vertical timber boarding with grass sedum roofs. The steel stands are branched to reflect the surrounding trees. The sky pods are set at varying heights to maximise the views of each pod and create a visually interesting and exciting layout. This difference in height also relates to the natural variation in the surrounding tree line.

‘The highest pod has an overall height of 5.5 metres. The pods are linked by a series of elevated walkways. Each pod has a minimum footprint of 3m x 3m with an additional 1.5m x 3m balcony.

‘Below the pods is a proposed communal area where there will be covered seating around a central fire pit. This will bring a sense of community for all users of the pods and the pod support posts reflect the surrounding tree trunks.’

When the proposed designs were looked at by the committee members were excited about the ‘different’ nature of them and the fact you had to climb up and along a walkway to get into them.

Chairman Cllr Bob Willingham said that as the raised pods would not be visible from the roadside or impede anyone’s view there was no reason why the town council should object.

Cllr Lea Deely added: “I don’t see a reason for us to object either. Good luck to them.”

All councillors on the committee voted in favour of the town council holding no objections.

The Environment Agency objected to the plans on the grounds that ‘the application form indicates that foul drainage is to be discharged to a non-mains drainage system’ and that it ‘does not, therefore, provide a sufficient basis for an assessment to be made of the risks of pollution to the water environment arising from the proposed development.’

The EA has, however, provided the applicants with advice on how to overcome this issue and make the application viable from its point of view.

All other consultees have declared no objections to the plans or have not wished to make a comment.

The final decision rests with Cornwall Council.