Issue - meetings

Conversion of the former Wynnes Arms from a vacant public house to five residential apartments

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Linda Ann Jones

Link to relevant background documents

DECISION: To delegate powers to the Planning Manager to approve the application, subject to the following conditions:

1.    5 years

2.    In accordance with the amended plans

3.    The external walls of the extension and any work undertaken to the external walls to complement the existing property in terms of colour and texture.

4.    Restrict the occupancy of the flats to class C3.

5.    In accordance with the FCA

6.    In accordance with the Construction, Highways and Environmental Management Plan.

7.    ⁠Ensure that biodiversity improvements are undertaken in accordance with the Green Infrastructure Statement and plans prior to the flats being occupied for the first time.

8.    Parking spaces to be operational before the flats are occupied for the first time.

9.    Provision and securing of bin and bicycle storage.

10.  Ensure a Welsh name for the development and for the dwellings.

Notes:-

·         Vigilance of the presence of protected species when undertaking the work

·         Culvert note

·         Welsh Government’s Transportation Unit advice

·         Welsh Water Advice

SUDS

Conversion of the former Wynne's Arms into five residential flats

a)    The Development Control Officer highlighted that this was an application to convert a public house into five residential, self-contained flats (three 2-bedroom flats and two 1-bedroom flats), along with the creation of parking spaces and alterations to the access.   He explained that the use as a public house had ceased in early 2017 and the building had been closed. The existing building provided a public house facility on the ground floor, a storage cellar below and one flat that was located on the first and second floors.    The proposal would involve interior changes to create the flats, and the external changes would be limited to the side extension with slight alterations to the layout of window and door openings at the rear.

The building was described as being situated on a triangular plot in a prominent place in Manod, within the development boundary of Blaenau Ffestiniog and within a residential area. He highlighted that it was proposed to provide parking for 6 cars, a vehicular access to the county road and a small garden with a patio together with a space for storing waste bins and a bicycle storage.  

The application was submitted to the Committee at the Local Member’s request.

In terms of the principle of the development, it was noted that the principle of losing its use as a public house had been agreed by granting those previous applications, and there had been no change in circumstances since approving those applications.  Consequently, the Council had accepted the conversion of the public house for alternative use, therefore the loss of the property's use as a public house within the town would not contravene the policy on communal facilities in the LDP. It was explained that Policy TAI 9 permitted the sub-division of existing properties into self-contained flats provided they comply with the relevant criteria of the policy. From assessing the proposal against the relevant criteria, the proposal to convert the building into five flats was not considered contrary to the objectives of policy TAI 9.

⁠In light of the indicative housing supply level for Blaenau Ffestiniog, it was felt that the proposal could be supported. In accordance with criterion 4 of policy TAI 15, the applicant had submitted viability information which indicated that it was not viable to provide affordable housing as part of the application. This information had been assessed by the Planning Policy Team who agreed with the analysis, however it was highlighted that the open market prices of the flats were reasonable, and thus it was assumed that the flats would be affordable regardless. ⁠It was considered that the proposal complied with the requirements of policy TAI 15 of the LDP.

⁠Also, further to the legislative change regarding the use classes of residential units, it was intended to impose a condition that the flats were restricted to use class C3 only, namely dwelling-houses used as a sole or main residence.

In respect of general  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10