GUESTS at a Somerset holiday park could soon be dining at a new restaurant and bar if planning permission is granted.

Plans have been submitted to build a new eatery on the site of The Cider Barn, an existing bar and café located next to Strawberryfield Park, near Cheddar.

Strawberryfield Park opened in March 2013 and contains 24 holiday lodges. Permission was recently granted for 11 more holiday units. 

The Cider Bar would be demolished to make way for the new restaurant, which would see an increase in the number of staff members employed at the site.

A former dog grooming parlour located near The Cider Barn would be changed into staff welfare facilities and a manager's office.

Salmon Planning Company has submitted the plans on behalf of the applicant, who owns Strawberryfield Park and The Cider Barn.

The planning application says: “The applicant, alongside his tenant who runs The Cider Barn, has developed a successful business but he is mindful that the appearance of The Cider Barn, and the adjoining land, does not reflect the quality of the surrounding rural landscape and ambience of Strawberryfield Park.

“Consequently, there is an opportunity to both improve the character and quality of the site's appearance and to develop the business to meet its full potential. 

“The application therefore proposes to demolish The Cider Barn and erect a new replacement building that would be a restaurant and bar.”

It adds: “Immediately to the south of The Cider Barn is a detached single-storey building which was formerly a dog-grooming parlour.

“This application also seeks to change this existing building into staff welfare facilities and a manager’s office, used ancillary to the new restaurant/bar.

“This element of the proposal would be a change of use only with no external changes proposed to the building.”

Currently, seven staff members are employed at The Cider Barn in part-time roles.

The new site is expected to require four full-time staff and up to 14 part-time workers including chefs, bar staff, kitchen porters, waiting staff and cleaners.

If approved, the plans would increase the parking area serving the bar/restaurant to provide spaces for 25 vehicles and 19 bicycles. 

A second entrance would be added to the site for vehicles “so that traffic is not solely focused on the existing entrance to The Cider Barn”.

The restaurant would serve holiday park guests and Draycott residents, who can walk or cycle to the site on a pedestrian footpath along the A371.

The proposals say: “In this context, the proposal is not a speculative but instead seeks to serve the existing needs of the holiday guests who are already present here.

“By providing new and improved restaurant and bar facilities, the proposal will increase the patronage of the premises by guests at the holiday park, many of whom currently travel to other places to seek quality restaurant provision.”

Read more: Plans unveiled for 15 bedrooms in former Taunton pub 

The planning application was registered with Sedgemoor District Council on December 20. The earliest decision date is January 13.

The proposals can be viewed on the council's planning portal (reference number 17/22/00065).