Issue - meetings

Farm diversification project for the siting of 5 holiday accommodation units on the land

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor John Pughe Roberts

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TO UNDERTAKE A SITE VISIT

Farm diversification plan for the siting of 5 holiday accommodation units on the land

.a)        The ⁠Development Control Team Leader highlighted that ⁠ it was an application for land use change and the development of new holiday accommodation in the form of 5 permanent glamping pods, associated parking, modifications to the entrance, drainage and landscaping.  It was explained that in dealing with the application the proposal was revised by reducing the size of the site and the number of pods from 6 to 5; the site was situated in the countryside and within a Special Landscape Area (SLA) with one residential property adjoining the site and an external building not owned by the applicant to the east of the existing entrance.

Given the type of pods and location of the application within the SLA, it was highlighted that point 1 of policy TWR 3 confirmed that proposals to develop new static caravan sites, new holiday chalet sites or permanent alternative camping accommodation within the Anglesey or Llŷn Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and within the SLA will be refused; the proposal was therefore fundamentally contrary to point 1 of policies TWR 3 and PCYFF 1 as it would establish a new permanent alternative camping site within the SLA.

In the context of general and residential matters, it was explained that the nearest dwelling house to the site was located at the bottom of the track which would be used by the users of the proposed holiday units and more or less abutted the application site's southern boundary. Currently, this dwelling house is surrounded by agricultural fields and the river and is in a relatively private and quiet location where there is little activity and disturbance for the occupants of the property. Introducing an alternative camping site at this location would have the potential to cause unacceptable detrimental impact on nearby property due to increased activity, noise and disturbance by visitors. It was added that the nature of holiday use entailed different movements to static residential units, and the applicant does not live on the site in terms of being able to supervise and manage the site and respond to any issues or problems that may arise at the time. It was considered that the proposal was contrary to the requirements of criterion 7 of policy PCYFF 2 on the grounds of impact on the amenities of the neighbours.

Attention was drawn to highways, biodiversity, archaeological, sustainability, flooding, drainage and linguistic matters which had received appropriate attention and the proposal was considered acceptable in this regard, but it was stressed that this did not overcome the fundamental objection to the proposal as the establishment of a new permanent alternative camping site within the SLA would be contrary to policy.

The officers recommended that the application be refused

.b)             Taking advantage of the right to speak, the applicant noted the following observations:

·        That the proposal was an attempt to diversify the farm

·        One of three daughters from a Welsh family, third generation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8