PLANS to build more than 50 new holiday apartments at a Teignbridge leisure park have attracted an objection from the Devon Wildlife Trust, which has raised concerns over the potential impact on biodiversity.

The charity has objected to the application for the development at Finlake Holiday Park, near Chudleigh, saying there is not enough evidence to demonstrate that biodiversity requirements have been met.

‘We object to the planning application because we consider that the proposals do not provide sufficient evidence to satisfy the requirements relating to biodiversity... we recommend that the application is refused’, the charity said in its response.

The Trust's concerns centre on greater horseshoe bats, with the site lying within the South Hams Special Area of Conservation Greater Horseshoe Bat Sustenance Zone.

According to the objection, no bat survey effort has been undertaken to establish how greater horseshoe bats use the site.

The Trust says adequate bat survey work should be completed, followed by an assessment of the direct and indirect impacts of the proposed development on greater horseshoe bats using the site for commuting and foraging.

The planning application, submitted by Haulfryn Group Ltd, seeks permission to replace the existing reception building, offices and sales display area at Finlake with 54 self-catering, one-bedroom holiday apartments.

The proposals form part of the resort's ongoing development and are intended to broaden the type of accommodation available to visitors.

The planning statement submitted with application 26/00908/MAJ says the smaller, one-bedroom apartments are intended to meet demand for this type of holiday accommodation.

It says the units would appeal to a wider customer base looking for short and out-of-season breaks, rather than primarily families visiting during school holidays.

The apartments would be arranged in three separate blocks, with accommodation on the ground and first floors.

The proposed development would largely occupy an area that has already been developed, incorporating the existing reception and offices, a tarmacadam driveway around the building, an existing car park and a hard-surfaced display area for holiday lodges.

Haulfryn says the scheme would create a ‘high-quality tourism development’, widening the range and style of holiday accommodation available to visitors to Teignbridge while bringing economic benefits to the local area and wider region.

Finlake Resort is accessed from the A38 via the B3344 and already includes a range of leisure facilities, including a water park, Sirona Spa, leisure pool, fitness suite and gymnasium.

The company says more than £25m has been spent at Finlake over the past nine years as part of a major reinvestment programme, including new facilities, improvements to existing facilities and the provision of holiday accommodation.

The application followed a pre-application consultation with Teignbridge Council, during which the council indicated that the principle of one-bedroom holiday units was acceptable.

However, the application must now be considered in light of the objections and representations received.

Teignbridge Council is due to make a decision on the application by October 26.

To view the associated planning documents in full, including Devon Wildlife Trust’s objection, and to comment on the application, visit Teignbridge Council’s planning portal and enter ‘26/00908/MAJ’ into the search-box.