Issue - meetings

Full application for the erection of seven dwellings along with associated works to include improvement to the existing access, associated internal access road and landscaping.

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Beca Roberts

Link to relevant background documents

DECISION: To defer in order to conduct a site visit

Full application for the erection of seven houses together with associated works to include improving the existing access, associated internal access road and landscaping.

Attention was drawn to the late / additional observations form that highlighted a) information from the Strategic Housing Unit regarding the need for affordable housing in Tregarth, and b) the Biodiversity Unit's incorrect observations had been included in the report. Their correct observations had noted:

·         That reasonable avoidance measures for reptiles had been included as a planning condition.

·         That no tree, shrub or vegetation should be cleared during the bird nesting season.

·         That there will be a need to ensure biodiversity improvements. 

a)    The Senior Development Control Officer highlighted that this was a full application to erect seven dwellings with associated works to improve the existing access, to create landscaped areas and an internal access road on land that was currently used by an electrical contractor business. It was intended to keep the existing office building on the site, which was associated with the business, but it would involve developing the surrounding land and demolishing an existing workshop to facilitate the construction of the new dwellings and access road. It was intended for two of the new dwellings to be intermediate affordable homes.

All the houses would be two-storeys with an 8.6m high pitch roof and finished in a mixture of materials including:

·         Natural slate roofing with composite uPVC fascias and soffits, and a ridge in red concrete or clay ridge tiles

·         Walls - facing brickwork in various shades and textures with decorative features and the remaining areas to be roughcast painted render

·         Rainwater goods: Powder coated steel system

·         Windows and doors: UPVC composite window systems, white and grey coloured front doors.

The site was located on a brownfield site within the Tregarth Local Village development boundary as defined by the Local Development Plan (LDP), but the site had not been allocated for any specific use. It was located within a designated Special Landscape Area and the Dyffryn Ogwen Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest, and within the buffer zones of two Scheduled Monuments such as CN202 Parc Gelli Huts and CN417 Penrhyn Quarry Railways, which also formed part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In terms of the development's principle, it was noted that Tregarth had been recognised as a Local Village under policy TAI 4 that allowed housing developments to meet the Plan's strategy by using suitable windfall sites within the development boundary. It was reiterated that appropriate evidence had been received noting that the plan would help meet the recognised housing needs in the local community. It was considered therefore that the proposal was consistent with the objectives of policies TAI 4, PCYFF 8 and PS 17 and that the principle of the development was consistent with the Local Development Plan's (LDP) housing policies.

Reference was made to criterion (3) of policy PCYFF 2 that noted that the best use of land should be made, including achieving densities of a minimum of 30  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6