Five-star Spa hotel is refused permission to build luxury treehouses

Five-star Spa hotel Chewton Glen is refused permission to build three more luxury treehouses after council planning chiefs ruled they would cause ‘significant environmental harm’ to greenbelt land in the New Forest

• One of the UK’s top spa hotels has become embroiled in a planning row with its local council over treehouses 
• Five-star Chewton Glen hotel and spa already has treehouses which ITV’s Holly Willoughby has stayed in  
• Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has said it cannot built anymore ‘groundbreaking’ treehouses 
• It said ‘significant environmental harm’ outweighed the ‘economic and social benefits’ they bring to the area

A spa hotel has been refused planning permission by its local council to build three more luxury treehouses as it would cause ‘significant environmental harm’ to greenbelt land.

Planning chiefs have ruled that three more hideaways, 35ft above the ground, which would have come with private hot tubs, at the five-star Chewton Glen hotel and spa in the New Forest would cause harm. 

The five-star getaway, which attracts a wealth of A-list celebrities including Kate Moss and Gwyneth Paltrow, was already allowed to build other treehouses on stilts in the woodland in the grounds of the sprawling country hotel.

But a local council rejected the application for three more ‘groundbreaking’ treehouses on the grounds it would impact the greenbelt land. 

The hotel blasted the ‘short-sighted and backward decision’, arguing the suites attract ‘high net worth’ guests who spend money in the local area. 

Actor Danny Dyer tied the knot with Joanne Mas at the stunning 18th century venue in 2016 and in 2019 TV star Holly Willoughby had her 38th birthday. 

She stayed in one of the luxurious treehouse suites which can cost up to £5,000 for a mere two night stay. 

Planning chiefs have ruled that three more hideaways, 35ft above the ground, which would have come with private hot tubs, at the five-star Chewton Glen hotel and spa in the New Forest would cause harm. Pictured: One of the current luxury treehouses at the hotel which has a hot tub, deck chairs and stands on stilts in woodland in the grounds of the sprawling country hotel

The five-star getaway, which attracts a wealth of A-list celebrities including Kate Moss and Gwyneth Paltrow, was already allowed to build seven other glass-fronted, wooden-clad treehouses, on stilts in woodland in the grounds of the sprawling country hotel. 

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council rejected their application despite another council, the New Forest District Council previously giving permission to build the seven glass-fronted, wooden-clad treehouses.

Chewton Glen managing director Andrew Stembridge said: ‘It is very disappointing that BCP Council and its local councillors have not supported this planning application for a very small number of additional Treehouses at Chewton Glen and the very special circumstances we have cited appear to have been blatantly ignored.

‘The previous development of Treehouses, which was given the full support of NFDC, has brought unprecedented international kudos to the region.

‘[The Treehouses have] allowed Chewton Glen, which is widely renowned as the region’s “jewel in the crown” from a tourism perspective, to continue to flourish and ultimately remain competitive against the backdrop of new competitors in neighbouring areas.

‘The original project was groundbreaking in so many ways, creating luxury, yet sustainable new suites on stilts and delivering a number of ecological improvements as part of the project.

‘Clearly Chewton Glen attracts an exceptionally high net worth audience who spend incrementally locally with most of the hotel’s suppliers based in the region and the team living nearby.

‘Ultimately, in terms of sustainable regional development this feels like a very short-sighted and backward decision at a time when economic development is particularly critical.’

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council rejected their application despite another council, the New Forest District Council previously giving permission to build the seven glass-fronted, wooden-clad treehouses. Pictured: One of the current treehouses’ bathrooms with a big tub and tiled flooring

Staying in the treehouse means having a slice of nature right on your doorstep, as this bedroom image shows. The room also has a couch, coffee table, wood burning stove and a balcony 

A treehouse at Chewton Glen Hotel which offers five-star luxury in total privacy, with hot tubs on a wrap-around balcony and a bridge in the middle which offers further space 

This roomy hot tub sits beside two deck chairs that look out from one of the balconies at one of the current treehouses 

BCP Council said that although there were ‘economic and social benefits’ to the treehouses, they were outweighed by ‘significant environmental harm in the adverse impacts of the development on the openness’ of the greenbelt. Pictured: The planned treehouses 

Chewton Glen hotel is a member of the Relais & Châteaux luxury hotel and restaurant association and is part of the Iconic Luxury Hotels group. Pictured: The planned treehouses

In its planning decision, BCP Council stated that the hotel had not demonstrated the ‘very special circumstances’ required under national planning policy that would have allowed the greenbelt land to be developed. It also said the treehouses were ‘considered to be inappropriate development and will adversely impact on the openness’ of the area. Pictured: Current treehouses

In its planning decision, BCP Council stated that the hotel had not demonstrated the ‘very special circumstances’ required under national planning policy that would have allowed the greenbelt land to be developed.

It also said the treehouses were ‘considered to be inappropriate development and will adversely impact on the openness’ of the area.

BCP Council said that although there were ‘economic and social benefits’ to the treehouses, they were outweighed by ‘significant environmental harm in the adverse impacts of the development on the openness’ of the greenbelt.

The 130-acre Chewton Glen, which features a grand Roman-themed pool and crystal steam rooms, has been voted number one on the inaugural Hoteliers’ Hotels Top 100 list.

It is also home to The Kitchen, a £2.6 million cookery school, headed by TV chef James Martin.

Chewton Glen hotel is a member of the Relais & Châteaux luxury hotel and restaurant association and is part of the Iconic Luxury Hotels group.

The 130-acre Chewton Glen has been voted number one on the inaugural Hoteliers’ Hotels Top 100 list

It features a grand Roman-themed pool and crystal steam rooms, which you have acess to while staying in the treehouses 

The addition of the new treehouses in red would have brought the number of stilt homes to 10 

From the outside, the secluded treehouse cuts an impressive and ergonomically pleasing silhouette, nestled among the tree canopy.

However, the short walk across the walkway to the front door reveals the real treat you have ahead. The inside is beautifully decorated with stylish interiors in muted grey tones.

There is also a delightful 20-minute walk to the sea via the hotel grounds and public footpath, with sea views over to the Isle of Wight.

One of the tree houses, the Yews, has a serviced kitchen so you can hire a chef for the entire time you are there, and therapists and personal trainers from the hotel spa can provide treatments, yoga and meditation classes and one-to-one personal training sessions, all within the privacy of the treehouse. 

The first treehouse at Chewton Glen opened in 2012. 

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