Three Rivers Geldeston campsite expansion upsets neighbours

But the very success of the Three Rivers Pitch and Paddle campsite in Geldeston also threatened to be its undoing, after its expansion went too far and was found to have broken planning rules.

Jodi Bromley, owner of the south Norfolk holiday site, faced Broads Authority members to defend her business at a recent planning meeting.

Jodi Bromley, who runs the Three Rivers Pitch & Paddle campsite in Geldeston (Image: Three Rivers Pitch and Paddle)

The firm, which has also become a destination for those looking to paddleboard or canoe along the river, previously fell into trouble with the organisation after creating seven extra tent pitches, holiday lets and a floating sauna.

Ms Bromley was compelled to issue a retrospective planning application to get permission for the additional structures, built on the banks of the River Waveney.

The floating sauna at Three Rivers Pitch & Paddle (Image: Three Rivers Pitch and Paddle)She attempted to persuade the planning committee to let her off the hook and approve the application, blaming her estranged partner James for breaking the rules.

The Broads Authority granted permission for the site to expand in 2021, allowing the camp to extend certain buildings and increase its number of tent pitches from 12 to 20.

Some of the buildings extended at the campsite were found to have gone beyond what was approved (Image: Three Rivers Pitch & Paddle) 

However a neighbour complained that the site had grown more than the plans suggested, with the number of pitches rising to 27.

Three holiday lets had also been created inside an existing building, plus a floating sauna with views across the river.

The neighbour complained that the site had become too big, harming the landscape and causing excessive noise and light pollution.

READ MORE: Parish council at loggerheads with Broads Authority over trees near landmark bridge

Idyllic scenes along the river at Three Rivers Pitch & Paddle campsite (Image: Three Rivers Pitch & Paddle) 

Ms Bromley, originally from Canada, attempted to explain the discrepancies at the most recent meeting. 

She said her former partner had been responsible for the planning application and subsequent building work, and that she was unaware he had broken rules.

After Covid the 'staycation' boom saw customer demand rise significantly, prompting the creation of extra accommodation.

She said she "was left in the dark" about what had been done amid a relationship breakdown, and that it was "a huge shock" to find out rules had been broken.

The camp site was found to have created seven more pitches than permission had been given for (Image: Three Rivers Pitch & Paddle) 

Members of the planning committee were sympathetic to Ms Bromley's plight.

Andrée Gee said her: "Testimony put my mind to rest."

The Geldeston campsite has become a destination for watersports (Image: Three Rivers Pitch and Paddle)

Harry Blathwayt, chair of the BA, agreed and noted that the campsite was an important part of the local tourist offering, also helping to support the local pub, The Locks Inn.

Officers supported the approval of the application due to the precedent set in 2021, when the BA gave permission for some of the expansion at the site.

Harry Blathwayt, chairman of the Broads Authority (Image: Harry Blathwayt)

Ultimately, the changes at the Three Rivers campsite were approved unanimously.

Ms Bromley was hugely relieved following the decision, claiming that the months leading up to the meeting had been "very stressful".

"You will not see me again," she said, promising to not break any further planning rules. She also invited members to come and see the beauty of the campsite for themselves. 

Nevertheless, she was told to move the floating sauna on land to prevent it posing a flood risk. The Three Bridges team is also required to move tent pitches further up the campsite. 

READ MORE: Probe into key section of river blamed for Broads flooding

Jodi Bromley celebrating winning an award at the Broadland and South Norfolk Business Awards 2024 (Image: Simon Finlay)

Ms Bromley added: "Moving the sauna is frustrating as it was a unique selling point of the site.

"Other places have floating holiday homes so it seems a bit unfair - we get flood alerts and are prepared for such events.

"People in the sauna would be in their swimming costumes already anyway."