Plans for restoration and conversion of WW2 Stanton Shelters into 20 new lodges

This story is over

Plans have been submitted for the restoration and conversion of WW2 Stanton Shelters into 20 new ‘high-quality’ lodges.

Proposals, submitted by Mr and Mrs Ritson, would see the 20 lodges built on woodland off Blyton Road, Laughton, Gainsborough.

The application seeks to obtain Full Planning Permission for:

  • The full restoration of one Stanton Air Raid Shelter that exists on the site
  • The restoration and sensitive conversion of the remaining three Stanton Air Raid Shelters that exist on the site for use as holiday accommodation
  • Provide an additional 18 ‘unique’ holiday accommodation lodges on the existing accommodation foundations
  • Two linked lodges for Caretaker and family, also on existing accommodation foundations
  • Improve the existing poor-quality woodland and enhance the natural habitat
  • 30 car parking spaces

The site currently comprises just under one hectare of a 1.2 hectare woodland, which is located in the open countryside between Blyton and Laughton

There are 23 large and four small concrete plinths, and four Stanton shelters within the application area, which are remnants of a rare Second World War military installation.

During WWII, the site functioned as ‘Dispersed Site No. 8’ of RAF Blyton during its operation from 1942 to 1945.

This site was purely for accommodation use and was the site of Nissen huts in three zones for Officer, Sergeant and aircrew accommodation, safely dispersed from one another in case of enemy attack.

The surviving concrete plinths would have originally held temporary buildings for accommodation, storage, and latrines, with the four Stanton shelters (manufactured by the Stanton Ironworks near Nottingham) located close at hand in the event of air raids.

These four shelters are now believed to be the last surviving buildings from RAF Blyton, aside from a small sentry hut by the entrance to the racing circuit, which is disused and now in the advanced stages of decay.

Previously, the applicant applied for planning permission on this site for the change of use of woodland area to form a glamping site consisting of the conversion of four Stanton shelters and the siting of 26 portable wooden lodges on July 24, 2018, however, this was refused permission on September 14, 2018

In the application, the applicants have stated three main aims from the conversion:

  • To rescue the four WW2 Stanton Air Raid Shelters that exist on the site, by full restoration of one shelter, and sensitive restoration of the remaining three for use as holiday accommodation
  • To improve the existing poor quality woodland and enhance the natural habitat
  • To provide high quality and unique holiday accommodation in a woodland setting

Members of the planning committee at West Lindsey District Council will discuss proposals at a later date.