Fears holidaymakers will flock to 'sunny Kingswood' if Airbnb allowed
Locals feared tourists flocking to 'sunny Kingswood' and parking on the road near their homes
A planning row has scuppered a plan to turn a granny annexe in Kingswood into a holiday let described as a “base for the Cotswolds”.
Locals feared tourists flocking to “sunny Kingswood” as they would either have to park on the road or reverse down a narrow lane behind a house.
South Gloucestershire Council refused planning permission after a developer applied to use the annexe for short-term lets.
Councillors said the holiday home would be “out of character” with the area — which doesn’t tend to be a magnet for tourists seeing the sights of the Bristol suburb.
The one-bedroom annexe is at the rear of a house on Court Road, and the access lane leads onto Claypool Road.
The application to let tourists stay there for up to 28 days was voted down by five votes to three on the development management committee on Thursday, June 12.
Writing to the council, the applicants said: “Presently, the annexe could be used by an elderly relative, a teenage child needing their own space separate from the main house, a ‘boomerang kid’ and their partner, or as guest accommodation.
“The proposed use as a one-bed Airbnb raises no additional concerns. As a small, one-bed unit, the likelihood of it being used as a ‘party house’, e.g. for stag and hen parties, is practically nil.
“The proposed change of use to a commercial holiday let would provide accommodation for people visiting friends or family in the area who do not have sufficient space to accommodate visitors themselves; Monday to Friday contractors; and for people looking for a weekend base for visiting Bristol, Bath, Keynsham, or the wider Cotswolds National Landscape.”
The Airbnb plans split the views of the committee. While some councillors were concerned about the increase in parking, others said a holiday let would likely lead to there being fewer cars parked on the road or reversing down the lane.
Conservative Councillor June Bamford said: “I think an Airbnb would have less vehicle movements than an annexe. If it were a granny, they’re quite active these days.
"They’re not sitting there with their knitting, never to be seen. Most people if they’re on holiday, they’re out in the morning and they’re coming back in the evening. It’s literally just a base.”
Other concerns included that the holiday let would be overbearing on neighbouring houses, with noisy visitors and leading to a loss of privacy. Kingswood Town Council objected to the plans, as well as a few neighbours.
There were also questions about whether the suburb was suitable as a holiday destination. Labour Cllr Michael Bell added: “Come to sunny Kingswood and have a good time.”