A DISUSED caravan park could reopen with ambitious plans for a new spa and gym for holiday-makers.

Millfields Caravan Park, in Burnham, is looking to build 52 new lodges at its site to provide a permanent holiday caravan park for visitors to the Dengie.

The plans also include the construction of new roads, parking and landscaping, manager’s accommodation, offices, a shop, shower/toilet facilities, spa, pool facilities and storage.

Philip Kratz, of development agent Birketts, said: “The re-introduction of a caravan site in Burnham will directly benefit the local community through the provision of a high quality site offering accommodation for visitors.

“Visitors will have access to local businesses including food and retail providers who will also benefit.

“The site will complement the existing recreation ground and in time may offer additional facilities which could be enjoyed by non-residents.” He added: “There is no ‘harm’ that would outweigh these planning benefits, and planning permission should therefore be granted.”

Every new lodge will have its own parking space.

The plans are intended to “benefit and improve” the tourism trade in areas surrounding Maldon and Burnham.

Mr Kratz added: “It is intended that two of the units will be available for caretaker or management staff, and the site will operate for ten months of the year with a defined two-month closure period, to reflect the holiday nature of the park.”

The site is outside of the town’s development boundary, where permanent residential accommodation would usually conflict with planning rules.

But Natural England has raised no objection to the proposal.

Consultant Alice Watson said: “Based on the plans submitted, Natural England considers that the proposed development will not have significant adverse impacts on statutorily protected sites or landscapes.”

Burnham Town Council is set to discuss the application at its next meeting.

To comment on the plans, search for 18/00381/FUL on Maldon District Council’s planning portal.