HOLIDAY homes can be built at Brokerswood Country Park, between Trowbridge and Westbury, following a High Court ruling today that the planning permission for the scheme was given correctly.

The park, on the edge of Southwick, has been an award-winning destination for camping, caravanning and outdoor pursuits, and is set in 80 acres of ancient woodland. The camping and caravanning sections of the park have remained open, after general public access to the park closed last year.

Last August Wiltshire Council granted planning permission for its transformation, triggering a storm of local protest.

Developers, Haulfryn Group Ltd, were granted consent for the 90 holiday lodges, 10 touring caravan pitches and 10 "camping pods" on an expanded site.

The project will involve removal of the park's small-gauge railway, a museum and other tourist attractions.

Local resident, Roger Austin, on behalf of the Brokerswood Residents Group, mounted a judicial review challenge to the scheme.

But today (Friday jan 20) senior judge, Mr Justice Hickinbottom, dismissed his complaints and upheld the planning permission.

He rejected claims that the council's planning committee had been "materially misled" by a report from one its own planning officers.

The council's policy on tourist developments had also neither been misinterpreted nor misapplied, the judge ruled.

And he also dismissed claims that not enough account was taken of the impact on the nearby All Saints Church, a listed building.

Most of the land concerned was already used as a caravan and camping site under existing planning consents, the court heard.

And the judge said it was "not arguable" that committee members were misled about the extent of those permissions.

Although there was no intention to ever move the holiday lodges, they were capable of of being shifted and were legally classified as "caravans".

The officer's report rightly stated that the proposals would be "an extension to existing facilities" and that only a limited change of use would be involved.

The council's policy that tourist developments must be "appropriate in scale" and help to ensure the future viability of businesses had also been properly applied.

The officer had advised the council that, with appropriate landscaping and planting, there would be "no detrimental effect" on the church's setting.

Mr Justice Hickinbottom concluded: "None of the grounds is made good. The claim is dismissed."

Following the hearing, the park issued a statement saying: "We are pleased that the Judicial Review has ruled in our favour, giving Brokerswood Country Park the green light to invest in its infrastructure and accommodation offering.

"Tourism is an important part of the Wiltshire economy and the ruling will allow the Park to upgrade its facilities to meet the needs of tourists to the area for many years to come."