Issue - meetings

Change of use of land and development of new tourist accommodation in the form of a) 2 no. permanent glamping pods and associated car parking; b) 33 no. pitches for touring caravans and associated parking; c) welfare facilities comprising a toilet block, shower block and store; and d) associated access arrangements, footpath connection to Abererch Road, drainage and landscaping 

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Elin Hywel

Link to relevant background documents

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

1.     Time

2.     In accordance with the amended plans.

3.     Restrict the number of touring units to 33 caravans and 2 pods only.

4.     Holiday use only and maintain a register.

5.     Touring unit's holiday season - 1 March to 31 October.

6.     No storing of touring caravans on the site.

7.     Complete the landscaping plan in the first planting season following approval.

8.     Trees and hedges along the site's boundaries must be retained.  

9.     Any hard standings are limited to caravan pitches only.  

10.  Agree on electricity and water utilities pathways.

11.  Present Toadflax-leaved St John's-wort Hypericum linariifolium Management Plan

12.  Complete Biodiversity improvements in accordance with the information submitted

13.  Highways Conditions

14.  Construction work hours

15.  Welsh Name

16.  Bilingual advertisements

17.  Main site access notification information off the A499

18.  Install a fence around the site

Notes:

Public Protection Note

Highways Notes

NRW letter note

Welsh Water letter note

SUDS note

Licensing Note

Change the use of land and develop a new holiday accommodation in the form of a) 2 permanent glamping pods and associated parking; b) 33 pitches for touring caravans and associated parking; c) welfare facilities including a toilet block, shower block and storage; and d) associated access arrangements, footpath link to Ffordd Abererch, drainage and landscaping.

a)     The Development Control Team Leader highlighted that the site was located on a hillock in the open countryside on the outskirts of Pwllheli Town with residential houses located at the bottom of the hillock; the site was located within an Area of Historical Interest and was on the outskirts of a Wildlife Site and the bottom of the hillock was designated a C2/Zone 2 and 3 flood area. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠

In the context of the principle of the development, and the fact that the proposal included touring and permanent units, it was explained that the relevant policies were TWR 3 and TWR 5 and their criteria focused on visual impact and acceptable access to the site. It was reported that a Landscape and Visual Appraisal had been submitted as part of the application which included standpoints from the site, the nearby area and from a distance. It was reiterated that the Appraisal was of a good standard and it confirmed that the development would not be visible from the majority of the standpoints, and whilst the development would be visible from some high or distant standpoints, only a part of the site would be visible, or it would also be visible in the context of Pwllheli's wider view. It was noted that there was an intention to further landscape the site and, therefore, it was considered that the proposal would not have an unacceptable visual impact.

In the context of transportation and access, it was reported that there was a proposal to improve current access into the site and to use it as a main entrance for the development. It was reiterated that a Transportation Statement had been submitted with the application and, despite acknowledging that Lôn Nant Stigallt was generally narrow with some steep parts, the entrance to the site was near the junction with the A499. It was described that the width of the carriageway at this part was larger than the average for the road, and the Statement confirmed that it was possible to achieve two-way traffic for this part. As a result, with the intention of either providing passing places, or achieving a one-way system across the rest of the road, the Transportation Unit considered that the use of the road was acceptable.

In the context of the layout of both permanent pods proposed, it was noted that the site was not located within the AONB or Special Landscape Area, and in accordance with the Landscape Sensitivity and Capacity Study, the number of units proposed was defined as a very small development, and was therefore not considered as over-provision. In the context of the touring units, it was explained that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8