Iconic Railway Carriages to open all year round

Not only have the historic Great Western Railway holiday carriages been saved, but, reports Devon Live,  planning permission has just been granted for the facility to open all year round

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Iconic Dawlish Warren railway carriages holiday park to open all year round

The holiday park consists of eight chalets in converted rail carriages

Plans for a railway themed holiday park to open all year round as a holiday destination have been approved.
The Brunel Camping Carriages site in Dawlish Warren – which features eight chalets in converted rail carriages – was sold at auction for £261,000 last year.
The holiday park consists of eight chalets in converted rail carriages, all of which are named individually after UK cities.
 Earlier this year, plans were approved to allow use of the site as holiday accommodation for eight train carriages and land for camping to be used between period of March 1 and October 31.

The iconic Brunel Camping Carriages Site at Dawlish Warren

 The applicants had asked planners for approval for the change of use of Brunel Camp Site in order to operate the whole park as a year-round holiday destination – which has now been approved.
Work has already begun on converting and improving the carriages.
 
Approving the application, planning officers said: “It is assessed that extending the available holiday season at this existing holiday park will improve the tourist accommodation provision in this area without having an adverse impact on the character of the surrounding area.
“The proposal offers clear socio-economic benefits to the local economy and tourism accommodation and can be provided in this location without harm being caused to residential amenity and as no additional facilities are proposed by this application or additional holiday units the proposal to expand the operating hours will have no adverse impact on the character and appearance of the area and therefore should be encouraged.”

Site Manager Josh Webster with one of the carriages being renovated at the Brunel Holiday Park (Image: Andy Uglow, Pyramid Torbay Photography)

 

 

 Outlining the plans, the applicants said: “The coaches have been a unique tourist attraction in Dawlish Warren since opening and have accommodated hundreds of families over the past 50 years.

 “Residents of Dawlish and regular users of the accommodation support the fact that the holiday park has been a prominent fixture in the village and a well-known and popular feature.
“The coaches were originally donated over 50 years ago for the use of members of families of the Great Western Railway Association and were later opened to the general public for holiday use.

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