A TIMBER cabin, which will be used as a holiday rental, can be built in an area of woodland near Roadhead Cumberland Council has ruled.

On Tuesday (October 22) planning officers decided that planning permission should be granted, subject to conditions, and the cabin will also be used for ecology and craft based educational activities.

It is for a site at Kinkry Hill House and according to the decision and reasons report the applicants seek to construct a small cabin within the woodland attached to their property.

The report states that it would measure 5.7m by 6.15m, with a height of 3.15m, and it would be constructed of reclaimed materials with timber cladding and a green roof, and no boundary treatment or external lighting proposed. The report adds: "Consequently, the cabin would be an appropriate scale and design."

According to the report, given the small scale, appropriate design, and location surrounded by trees, the proposed cabin would integrate into the woodland and is unlikely to be visible from the public realm. It adds: "In such circumstances, the development would not have an adverse impact on the surrounding rural landscape."

The report concludes that, in overall terms, the proposed cabin for use as a holiday let and for woodland activities is acceptable in principle considering the development would support rural diversification.

It states: "The scale and design of the cabin are considered appropriate to the woodland and it would not have an adverse impact upon the landscape character of the area.

"The development would enable only small numbers of visitors at a time and will not have a detrimental impact upon the living conditions of the occupiers of any neighbouring properties.

"Access, parking, drainage and waste are also appropriate at this scale and given the nature of the development. The development would demonstrate 10 percent biodiversity net gain and is not expected to harm the integrity of the woodland for species and biodiversity."