THE largest shooting centre in Wales could be turned into a five-star holiday park under new plans.

Jonathan Williams of Mid Wales Shooting Centre, has applied for planning permission to turn the facility at Ffinnant near Trefeglwys into a holiday park.

The shooting centre, which has hosted many national and international clay target tournaments, already has permission for 30 touring caravans, five holiday lodges and five static caravans on site.

But under new proposal split into three development areas, the centre could have 65 timber holiday lodges, 72 static caravans and 70 touring pitches.

Agents Jonathan Lambe said: “The proposal is to develop and expand upon the permitted touring caravan and holiday lodge consents to develop a five star mixed use holiday park in lieu of the existing shooting ground.”

“The site is an existing shooting ground, with many buildings and structures which would be removed as part of these proposals.

“It is a brownfield site and no agricultural land would be lost due to these proposals.”

According to the design and access statement the scheme would pump a "significant” amount of money into the local economy.

A report called Pitching the Value from the UK Caravanning & Camping Alliance, published in February 2019, found that holiday parks generate £9.3 billion in visitor expenditure which equates to £5.3billion in Gross Value Added – essentially another term for economic growth – to the UK economy.

More than 171,000 jobs are reliant on the sector.

Mr Lambe added: “The proposed holiday park layout is very low density with the units located informally with additional belts of new landscaping and planting in native species of trees and shrubs.

“The proposals relate to the creation of an upmarket tourism product and are exactly in line with Central Government, Visit Wales, Tourist Board policies and Local Development Plans to encourage the creation of such facilities and accommodation.”

He adds as the shooting centre would cease to exist if the holiday park is built, there would be a “significant reduction” of noise from the site.

During a pre-application consultation, Trefeglwys Community Council have said that they have no objections to the proposals.