GUESTS at a luxury hotel could soon be able to sleep with the birds if plans for six new “treehouse” lodges are approved.

Ramside Hall Hotel, near Durham, has applied for planning permission to built six two-bedroom lodges, which would be built on stilts in the grounds, next to the golf course.

Owner John Adamson said: “This is something entirely new for the North-East, we really believe that visitors will have seen nothing like this before.”

“It’s a unique, luxury development which will enhance the already strong offering we have at Ramside for business and leisure guests.

“We have been very careful about a design which is sympathetic to the surroundings and which will be built using renewable materials wherever possible.”

If approved, the development would be scheduled to open in June/July 2018.

The scheme has been developed by Sussex-based company Blue Forest, which has built treehouse projects all over the world.

The area is within Durham’s greenbelt, but Ramside Estates say the development will enhance existing facilities and will help the hotel cater for greater levels of tourism and business in the city.

They also say the quality of woodland is key to the success of the scheme and it will result in it being enhanced.

The plan is the latest multi-million pound development at the family-owned hotel, which is part of Ramside Estate which also owns Hardwick Hall Hotel, near Sedgefield and Bowburn Hall. The firm has also applied to extend facilities Bowburn Hall by extending the ballroom and creating a decking area.