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Plans for £60 million Dumfries and Galloway holiday park rejected

Plans for a £60 million holiday park near Ringford in Dumfries and Galloway have been rejected by planning officials. The proposal from VCL Developments to build 425 lodges at Barncrosh was turned down due to insufficient information provided. In mid-September, VCL requested the council to remove some reports, including a landscape and visual impact assessment, from the planning portal, but they were informed that more details were required to make an informed decision.
On Friday, the planners refused permission for the development citing the lack of information for a proper assessment. Interestingly, the decision was made shortly after BPL1 Ltd, the previous landowner of Barncrosh, was dissolved. The land at Barncrosh was sold to Apple Invest Ltd in July 2021 for £1.35 million. Following Apple Invest’s administration this year, the land was put up for sale along with a caravan park at Barnsoul near Shawhead.
Documents from Companies House revealed that Barncrosh was valued at over £6 million, with a sale in progress as of August 30. Previous proposals for the site included plans for over 400 chalets, indicating a history of development interest in the area. VCL Developments, despite the rejection, expressed their independence from previous developers for the site and highlighted Barncrosh as their first project in the region.
Notably, VCL shareholder Andrew Anderson, who confirmed ownership of the site in a public meeting in Ringford, holds half the shares in VCL, with director Branagh Mcnamara owning the other half. The involvement of Anderson extends to other companies such as Apple Invest Limited and Landal Belvedere Developments Ltd. The dissolution of BPL1 Ltd and subsequent sale of Barncrosh adds a layer of complexity to the development landscape in Dumfries and Galloway.
In conclusion, the rejection of the £60 million holiday park plan in Dumfries and Galloway highlights the complexities of large-scale developments and the importance of providing sufficient information for planning decisions. The ownership changes and administrative processes surrounding the land at Barncrosh add intrigue to the future of the site and potential developments in the area. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the local community and future development projects in the region.