Inquiry over glamping pods without planning approval

A council is investigating after three luxury glamping cabins were erected near a popular north coast beach without planning approval.

The cabins appeared on land overlooking West Strand Beach in Portrush, County Antrim.

In a statement, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council said a planning application, lodged in June, for the three glamping cabins and associated sauna huts, a stand-alone sauna and plunge pool facility, and the provision of parking on the land was still "under consideration".

In response, Reflect Portrush, who operate the cabins, said they had "engaged openly with the planning authority, and will continue to do so while the application is under consideration".

Reflect Portrush told BBC News NI that the site "already benefits from planning permission for holiday accommodation with the same occupancy levels" and that their current application seeks permission for "an alternative form of tourist accommodation".

A previous planning application was lodged for the land to station a single double-decker bus for short-term visitor accommodation and was approved on appeal by the Planning Appeals Commission back in August 2024.

A new application for three cabins and associated works was then lodged for the same named land in June of this year with no decision yet taken on the development.

Reflect Portrush said the cabins were "temporary structures without permanent foundations that could be removed or relocated" and said "they believe is more sympathetic to the site's coastal setting".

In a statement, a Causeway Coast and Glens Council spokesperson said they are "investigating development carried out to date".

Reflect Portrush has already advertised bookings and a wait-list for the pods from September and describes the three cabins, which are named Cove, Nest and Perch, as "luxury contemporary retreats, with uninterrupted panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean".

According to the company's website, a typical price for a one-night stay in one of the cabins during the week in September is £275, and can increase to £350 per night if booked for an overnight stay on a Friday or Saturday.

A statement from Reflect Portrush, signed by husband and wife Ruth and James Alexander, said marketing had begun in "anticipation of the project progressing", describing the September launch date as reflecting their "aspirations for the project" and one that will "allow us to to begin establishing the Reflect Portrush brand and gauging customer interest".

Sally Gower said she is a big fan of the new luxury cabins and believes more accommodation like this is needed in the area.

"I think they're quite cool, in all honesty. They look a bit futuristic as well, and look at the views from the balconies – you can't beat that."

Helen Quinn disagrees and thinks the cabins are not in keeping with the beach aesthetic at all.

"I actually got a bit of a shock when I saw them there," Quinn said.

"I think they have been squeezed into too small a space. I think they are right on the edge. I certainly would not like to stay in one."

Eimear Bush said she personally likes the look of the cabins but has no idea why someone would want to stay somewhere so close to Curry's Amusement Park, with so many noisy roller coasters nearby.

Father and son Nigel and Leighton Christie, from Ballymoney, said they would love to have a family holiday in the cabins and enjoy the breathtaking views.

Jennie Reid, who lives in Portrush, said she is in two minds about the luxury cabins.

"I do think they are quite interesting, but I do have some issues with their placement because you are so close to the beach walkway and you don't really get much privacy, do you?"

Alliance Party councillor Richard Brown Stewart said he had been contacted by "a significant number" of local residents who had raised concerns about the cabins.

"Following my request for clarification, the council's planning department has confirmed that an enforcement investigation is underway and has been linked to a planning application submitted in June for the development," Stewart said.

He said now that the cabins had been put in place the application submitted in June would have to be withdrawn and a new one submitted seeking permission retrospectively.

"The application remains at an early stage and consultations are ongoing and, to date a number of objections have already been received," Stewart said.

"I appreciate that many residents are frustrated and have questions about how development can take place before planning permission has been granted and I'm worried this could set a dangerous precedent."

Ulster Unionist Party councillor Norman Hillis said how the cabins look is irrelevant without planning permission.

"It's an environmentally sensitive area around here, so I would think a big lot of thought will go into whether they get planning permission or not," he said.

"They've totally jumped the gun."

Reflect Portrush said it believed the development would transform "a neglected and underutilised site into a high-quality tourism destination" and said the public response since unveiling the project had been "overwhelmingly positive".

They also added that the cabins had been designed to "to be more visually sympathetic than the previously approved scheme".

The company said guests choosing to book the accommodation would be encouraged to use local cafés, restaurants and attractions, helping to support the local economy, and added that "they respect the planning process" and are "confident that any matters raised can be addressed through normal planning procedures".