Issue - meetings

Application for the conversion of a public house to 5 flats together with rear extension and parking area

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Linda Ann Jones

Link to relevant background documents

To refuse the application on grounds of:

The proposal to convert the building to five flats is located within an area with a history of flooding, and no information has been submitted as part of the planning application to show that the risk of flooding can be adequately regulated; and therefore the proposal is contrary to policy ISA 1 and PS 6 of the Gwynedd and Anglesey Joint Local Development Plan and Technical Advice Note 15: Development and Flood Risk.

Attention was drawn to the late observations form.

a)    The Planning Manager elaborated on the background of the application, and noted that it had been submitted to committee in September, where it was resolved to defer consideration as a result of receiving concerns regarding flooding on the site.   In the meantime, it was reported that the applicant had informed the Council that he had submitted an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate due to a lack of decision by the Council on the application (closing date 20/10/20).

Following the Committee's determination (10 September 2020 meeting), to defer the decision in order to receive more information regarding drainage matters, the Flood Risk and Coastal Erosion Management Unit was consulted. A response was received noting their objection as they were aware that a culverted watercourse ran through the development site, which had not been identified in the application. The developer was advised to establish the exact path and condition of the culvert prior to undertaking any work on the site. It was noted that there was strong evidence that the watercourse had caused historical flooding to the cellar floor of the existing building.  The developer was advised to establish the exact path and condition of the culvert and to prepare a limited Flooding Consequences Assessment (FCA) to consider if the site may be developed safely in accordance with TAN15.  Until an acceptable flooding assessment would be produced, the Unit would object to the development on the grounds of flooding risk.

In light of the information received, it was reported that the only option would be to recommend to refuse the application.

b)    It was highlighted that the Local Member objected on the grounds of flooding concerns

c)    It was proposed and seconded to refuse the application

RESOLVED to refuse the application on the grounds that the proposal to convert the building into five flats was within an area with a history of flooding, and no information had been submitted as part of the application to show that the risk of flooding can be managed safely; and therefore the proposal was considered to be contrary to policy ISA 1 and PS 6 of the Anglesey and Gwynedd Joint Local Development Plan and Technical Advice Note 15: Development and Flood Risk.