PLANS to turn a former warden’s cottage at a Christchurch nature reserve into a holiday let have been approved.

Despite concerns about stag and hen parties, and potential damage to the special site, members of Christchurch council’s planning committee gave the application to turn the former ranger’s cottage at Steamer Point into a holiday home, the go-ahead.

Dozens of objections were made about the scheme, which is likely to earn the council £10,000 a year.

They centred on potential increase in litter and increased traffic to and from the site.

But a planning report said it was not expected the leasing of the property would cause a significant increase in traffic or harm the character of the area.

The officers report also said that a feared increase in stag and hen parties, was a “hypothetical situation.”

Rangers would be required to keep strict control of the situation, with the letting agreement also drawn up to the reflect the sensitivities of the site as a local nature reserve.

Refurbishment to the sum of £24,000 had already been approved by the authority’s resources committee earlier this year.

The cottage will be rented through Sykes Cottages.

In April, the resources committee approved work to the floors and decoration as well as a new kitchen and bathroom, with furniture and other items also agreed.

The property will be available to rent all year round - but it has been estimated the average occupancy will be around 40 weeks.

Rent will average between £337 and £936 a week depending on seasonality.

Other uses were dismissed as unacceptable with the conversion of the lodge bringing the best value return for the council.

Payback on the capital investment will be returned after three years, with the lodge generating a return of 31 per cent on the initial investment.