A disused quarry in Somerset is on track to become a luxury holiday retreat featuring nearly 150 timber lodges. Located on Bector Lane near Stoke St. Michael, between Shepton Mallet and Radstock, the Cookswood gated community will occupy the 40-hectare site of the former Cookswood limestone quarry, which closed in 1989. The site includes a large lake and extensive woodland areas, offering a scenic backdrop for the new development.
Mendip District Council initially granted planning permission in October 2014 for the transformation of the quarry into a holiday destination. The approved plans include 143 timber lodges, a swimming pool, spa facilities, sports fields, a restaurant, an activity lake, a land train, and nature trails.
To date, only a small number of lodges have been constructed. Following a local government reorganization, Somerset Council—the successor to Mendip District Council—has now given preliminary approval to revised plans for the remaining lodges. However, further assessments will be required before building can continue.
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Clare Bartlett of Batcheller Monkhouse, representing the applicant, explained that the original lodge placements needed adjustment. “During construction, it became clear that the lodges could not be positioned exactly as per the initial layout due to discrepancies between the original topographical survey and the actual ground features such as quarry faces and woodland areas which had to be preserved,” Bartlett noted. She added that an increase in lodge size under a separate application meant the lodges must be spaced further apart, necessitating a revised site layout and permission for variations to the overall plan.
The lodges will be divided between the western and eastern sides of the site, separated by Bector Lane. The western cluster will be within walking distance of the swimming pool and a large children’s play area, while the eastern lodges will be near the lake, restaurant, and a proposed nature study centre.
Terra Firma, a landscape consultancy involved in the project, commented that the development enhances views both within and at the entrance to the site compared to its former state. They concluded that further building would not cause significant harm or more negative effects to the environment.
Due to the scale of the project, the council has mandated a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) be submitted and approved before further construction activities can proceed.