A FIVE-STAR holiday park near Machynlleth will be able to have nine more static caravans after a successful planning application to extend the site.

Situated 600 metres to the north east of Penegoes, Maesperthi Caravan and Lodge Park is already an award-winning farm diversification project.

The Davies family has farmed there for 400 years and the caravan park has expanded over time to accommodate 72 caravans and eight lodges.

Now it is to be extended again with nine more 12.5 metre-long caravans.

Powys County Council planning officer Luke Jones said in his report: “The proposed development is acceptable within this location and will not have a detrimental impact on the surrounding landscape.

“It is therefore considered that the proposed development fundamentally complies with relevant planning policy and the recommendation is one of conditional consent.”

Local county councillor Elwyn Vaughan was consulted on the application and said: “This proposal is a natural extension of the current high quality site.”

Cadfarch community council also discussed the application and its clerk, Richard Jones, said no objections had been raised.

The holiday park is just off the A489 road and also has a leisure complex and which comprises a jacuzzi, sauna and gym, as well as a large playground , summerhouse and laundrette.

In 2004 the family won the Montgomeryshire Agricultural Association Farm Diversification and followed this up with Powys Business of the Year Award for Farm Diversification in 2011.