Whitby restaurant looking to expand with 22 new lodges, creating up to 14 jobs

John and Sue Morley, who own and run The Stables at Cross Butts in Guisborough Road, have applied to Scarborough Council for permission for the change of use of land to the south of the property to place 18 holiday lodges and four holiday shepherds’ huts or glamping pods on it.

Originally, a total of 31 units were proposed when the plans were submitted in January but that has been reduced following discussions with utility companies.

The plans have now been recommended for approval by borough council planning officers and will be voted on when the authority’s planning committee when it meets on Thursday.

In the original planning submission to the borough council, it stated that the business, which was transformed into the award-winning venue by the Morley family after the farm fell victim to the foot and mouth outbreak in the early 2000s, has become a “victim of its own success”.

It added: “The most significant deficiencies in visitor space at present are, first, the shortage of letting rooms and, second, the lack of a function room which is proofed against the Whitby winter and is also large enough to cater for demand, particularly for weddings.”

The venue currently has nine rooms to let, which are often booked in advance and it is hoped the lodges will allow greater flexibility to allow wedding guests to stay at Cross Butts.

The submission adds that there would be benefits to the local community.

“The development will lead directly to between 12 and 14 full-time jobs,” it states.

“These may be completely new jobs but also provide opportunities for existing part-time staff to work full time if they so choose.”

The plans are recommended for approval though some details would remain to be agreed.

A report, prepared for the planning committee, states: “The application proposal have been drawn up following pre-application discussions with your officers and following the consideration of landscape and visual impact matters.

“Typical unit types have been submitted with the application, but subject to planning permission being forthcoming the applicant has confirmed that the preference would be to work with local suppliers to erect appropriate units on the site, similar to those submitted for illustrative purposes with the application.”

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