Coastal erosion threat to plans for new diving centre in Yorkshire

Newton Farming Ltd wants to convert redundant barns close to the cliff edge at Grange Farm, near Aldbrough, into a diving centre and entertainment complex for events including weddings.

One of the barns would be converted into an “open plan function suite” with recycled shipping containers acting as kitchen, bar and toilets.

There would also be a launching facility with boats being taken onto the beach by a caterpillar tractor.

The scheme is designed so it can be easily dismantled before the site is lost to the sea.

The applicants say it will be an "interesting and unique" feature which will attract visitors to the adjacent Newton Shores Holiday Park.

But planners at East Riding Council say the diving centre relies on being able to use an “unauthorised” ramp to get onto the beach, which is unsafe for public use and “will continue to deteriorate, possibly quite rapidly if exposed to rough weather”.

They are also concerned about light pollution and noise as well as the extra traffic on the narrow lane leading to the site.

Officers say the scheme is not acceptable because of “its risk from coastal erosion and the low property life expectancy due to its location”

A report to councillors, who are due to meet on Monday February 8 to discuss the application, states: "The application recognises the temporary nature of the development due to coastal erosion and proposes the use of modular buildings, which can be deconstructed and relocated once the risk from erosion increases.

"Despite this, due to the proposed scale of modification and development to the existing site, we do not believe that the proposal would constitute appropriate development within the 2025 to 2055 zone of the Coastal Change Management Area."

Permission was given for a diving centre in 2002, but that has since lapsed.