A hot tub and sauna ‘wellness’ facility which prompted initial environmental concerns at an Eryri holiday park has been give the green light.

The proposal at the 4* Aberdunant Hall hotel and holiday park at Prenteg, between Porthmadog and Beddgelert, was approved with conditions by Eryri National Park planners.

The applicants had stated that the facility would “enhance the quality of visitor facilities” and would “support the local tourism economy in a sustainable manner.”

However, the proposal had prompted some concerns over a potential impact on a nearby river, a site of special scientific interest SSSI and special area of conservation SAC, although the matters had been “satisfactorily” mitigated, plans stated.

The proposed building was described as a large, covered area for a hot tub with an open frontage, sauna, and adjacent changing room.

The single storey unit would have a flat roof and external appearance of stained timber to “blend with the natural surroundings” of the wooded park,

The development was within the grounds of the park, within an existing cluster of holiday lodges “reducing any landscape intrusion”.

Low-level external lighting had also been designed to comply with the National Park’s Dark Skies Reserve principles.

Users of the new facility would mainly be visitors to the holiday park who would either walk or cycle from their holiday unit to the building along private access roads within the site.

Natural Resources Wales had noted it had had “continued to have concerns” with the application as submitted.

But it was satisfied these could be overcome if a Pollution Prevention Plan, prepared by the agent, was included in the approved plans and documents condition on the decision notice.

They added: “The commitment to ensuring no direct discharge to the nearby watercourse, alongside the neutralisation of chlorinated water prior to disposal and the use of controlled treatment and soak-away system, should adequately minimise the risk of pollution.”