Scottish caravan park expansion approved despite company going bust

On Monday, Scottish Borders Council’s Planning and Building Standards Committee approved on plans for 36 new static caravans on land south-west of Springwood Caravan Park, at Springwood Village in Kelso.

However the applicant, Cove Communities Holiday Park UK entered administration in November 2025, affecting 11 holiday resorts across England and Scotland.

Members were informed that the current status of the company did not impact on the granting of the application.

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Lead planning officer Barry Fotheringham explained: “The status of the company which is involved at Springwood is not a material planning consideration and should not form part of your deliberations today.

“Planning condition goes with the land, not with the applicant, which if you were minded to grant consent this permission would allow the current owners, or any other company who may take control of the holiday park following the administration process, to implement that consent.”

The new caravans have been given approval to be installed on an adjacent farmer’s field located beside the existing caravan park.

Ten objections to the proposals were submitted, citing such grounds as increased traffic, wildlife concerns, a loss of peace and tranquillity for neighbours and the loss of green space.

Mid-Berwickshire SNP councillor Donald Moffat (below) said: “This is good news for Kelso and the area because these caravan parks do actually contribute greatly to the viability of shops and takeaway businesses and I know that personally in Greenlaw, which is in my ward, it accounts for a lot of trade in the local mini-market, and without the caravan park it would possibly not be viable.

“I know that since we were fortunate to get a caravan site in Coldstream it has made a dramatic difference to the Co-op and a lot of the takeaway businesses, in fact there’s another one just opened. The employment in that area has gone up as a result of the caravan park.”

Committee chair Simon Mountford, who represents the Conservatives in Kelso, said: “Colleagues, thank you for your support for this proposal, as you know it is in my ward.

“This will enhance the tourism offering to Kelso. It’s a popular and attractive caravan site at the moment but there is a demand for more caravans and I think this will meet a demand and the economic benefit will outweigh any possible impact on residential amenity, which I think will be pretty slight in any case.”

In his report approving the application, council planning officer Euan Calvert stated: “This site has historic permission dating from the 1970s. There were two extensions in the 1970s followed by a further two extensions in the 1980s.

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“Members will note that objectors call into question the need for the expansion of the caravan park but the applicant’s business plan addresses the number of caravans currently on site, confirming that the present level of 179 caravans is well below the total number permissible under licence (up to 340).

“The proposed expansion is considered acceptable in terms of the visual, landscape and environmental impacts. Mitigation and supporting infrastructure can all be secured through appropriately worded planning conditions.

“This limited impact, aligned with the potential to generate economic growth and inward investment in the Borders through the expansion of an existing, and well established, tourist facility is significant in the wider planning balance.”