The Old Airfield campsite at Holmsley refused permission by New Forest National Park Authority

IT’S hoped a popular New Forest campsite can still open this summer after being denied permission to operate by the national park authority.

The Old Airfield site at Holmsley, near Burley, is run by Vivien Sheriff, and was set to open for up to 100 pitches for 59 days between late May and 26th August.

The 30-acre site is one of three New Forest campsites operated by Vivien, alongside two other facilities at Frogham and Hale Park.

An application under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, was recently refused by the NPA after Natural England objected.

In a decision notice, case office Lucie Cooper said the scheme had the potential to generate 6,700 additional visitor days per year.

It continued: “The overall resultant capacity represents a significant increase in overnight visitor accommodation in an extremely sensitive area.

“Such an increase… together with the site’s close proximity to the designated sites of the New Forest and River Avon, even on a temporary basis, is considered to be in excess of the scale of development which could be mitigated through the authority’s agreed mitigation strategy for temporary campsites.

“Additional bespoke mitigation for the impacts has not been put forward.”

Speaking after the decision, Vivien said the business was working with NPA officers to draw up a mitigation plan which would allow the site to operate this summer.

She added: “The NPA have been really helpful in working with us to address the concerns, and we just hope with more information they will allow us to open this summer.”

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