Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To accept any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor John Pughe

To receive any declaration of personal interest and to note protocol matters.

a)     The following members declared that they were local members in relation to the items noted:

·        Councillor Angela Russell, (who was not a member of this Planning Committee), in item 5.1 (C23/0338/38/LL) on the agenda.

·        Councillor Beca Roberts (who was not a member of this Planning Committee), in item 5.2 (C24/0937/16/LL) on the agenda.

Iwan Evans (Head of Legal Services - Monitoring Officer) stated that he should declare an interest in item 5.2 (C24/0937/16/LL) on the agenda as he had been involved in the project in the Ambition Board. Although it was not an application from the Corporate Joint Committee, he considered that it would be inappropriate for him to be advising the Committee on this matter. He withdrew from the meeting during the discussion

To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for consideration.

As a point of order, it was reported that since the Chair was joining the meeting virtually, the Monitoring Officer would be announcing the results of the voting on the applications.

The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee, held on, 29^th September 2025, be signed as a true record.

The Chair accepted the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 29 September 2025 as a true record.

To submit the report of the Head of Environment Department.

The Committee considered the following applications for development. Details of the applications were expanded upon, and questions were answered in relation to the plans and policy aspects.

Full application for the installation of a 4.99MW solar photovoltaic (PV) farm with associated works including creation of a new vehicular access and access tracks, fencing, landscaping,  install two containerised transformer stations to gather and export electricity created from the site and installation of underground cabling. 

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Angela Russell

LInk to relevant background documents

DECISION: TO REFUSE

The proposal is unacceptable given the requirements of criterion 1 and criterion 3 of policy ADN 2, as well as the requirements of policies PCYFF 3 and 4 and AMG 2 of the Gwynedd and Anglesey Joint Local Development Plan (2017) and a Landscape Sensitivity and Capacity Study 2014 as a result of the size and location of the proposal within a Special Landscape Area and its visual impact on the character of the landscape, and that it has a significant harm on the residential visual amenities of nearby residents, specifically the Wern Newydd property.

A full application for the installation of solar panels (PV) to create a 4.99MW solar farm with associated developments, including the creation of a new vehicular access and access tracks, building a fence, landscaping, installing two transformer stations to gather and export electricity generated and installation of underground cables.

Attention was drawn to the late observations form.

a)           The Senior Planning Officer highlighted that the proposed development site was open agricultural land comprising natural hedges along its boundaries and scattered mature trees on and near the site. It was outside any existing development boundary with access obtained from an unclassified public road known as Lôn Pin while a series of public paths crossed adjacent lands; and the site was within the West Llŷn Special Landscape Area and the Llŷn and Enlli Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest designations with the nearest boundary of the Llŷn AONB approximately 1km away from the nearest part of the site of the proposed development.

Attention was drawn to the response to observations  received on the original consultation of the application, highlighting that there was additional and revised information which included information regarding the vehicular access and access tracks, additional information in the form of detailed plans of the frames to hold the solar panels themselves; Green Infrastructure Statement; Language Statement; and responses to comments received from the Archaeological Service, Natural Resources Wales, Coed Cadw, the Community Council and Land Drainage Unit in relation to SUDS matters had been considered.

It was reported that the application was being submitted to the Committee as the area of the proposed development was larger than what could be considered by officers under the delegated procedure.

In accordance with the requirements of the Town and Country Planning (Development Control Procedure) (Wales) Order 2012 (as amended), it was explained that the development was defined as a "major development" due to the size of the area of the development. In line with the appropriate procedure, a Pre-application Consultation Report was received as part of the application and the developer had advertised the proposal to the public and the statutory consultees before submitting a formal planning application.

It was reported that the proposal had raised considerable concerns locally and it was acknowledged that several letters opposing the proposal had also been received.

It was explained that the principle of this type of development was supported and that adopted policies were supportive of such proposals as long as they fully met all relevant criteria. It was further noted that a pre-application enquiry discussion took place with the applicant with advice given regarding such a development. Attention was drawn to the technical reports submitted by eligible companies regarding aspects of the proposal and likely impact in terms of considerations, visual impact, brightness effects, transport management, etc. Full attention and assessment had been given to the content of all reports and information submitted but as it could not be ensured that the proposal would not cause significant harm to the residential amenities  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Development of a new adventure tourism ride by way of a 'Swing' to include the erection of a swing platform structure, ramp and landing structure, associated cables and anchor structures together with associated works.

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Beca Roberts

Link to relevant background documents

DECISION: To approve subject to the receipt of positive observations from CADW and the following conditions: 

1.     5 years  

2.     Comply with the approved plans  

3.     Comply with the Construction Transport Management Plan 

4.     Comply with the Initial Ecological and Habitat Enhancement Assessment

5.     Submit and agree a Heritage Management Plan 

6.     Submit an Environmental Method Statement 

7.     Submit and agree Site Management Plan to include a mechanism to deal with complaints. 

8.     Welsh/bilingual signs 

9.     Cadw Conditions 

Note – Natural Resources Wales, Dŵr Cymru. 

Development of a new adventure tourism ride by way of a 'Swing' to include the erection of a swing platform structure, ramp and landing structure, associated cables and anchor structures together with associated works. 

Attention was drawn to the late observations form which referred to comments from Llandygai Community Council along with a letter from the Chair of the Wales Slate Partnership Board. It was noted that a further objection from a member of the public had been received over the weekend, but that it did not raise any new issue.

Some of the Committee Members had visited the site on 20-10-25.

a)           The Planning Manager highlighted that it was a full application for the creation of an additional activity at the Zip World site at Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda. The proposal was to establish a new ride in the form of a large swing with 6 seats with the works including the erection of a platform structure, a ramp and landing structure, cables connected to anchor structures.

It was explained that the application site included a piece of land within the Penrhyn Quarry area, to the south-west of the existing Zip World site, extending across the quarry lake towards a gallery at a higher level on the south side of the quarry pit. The proposed development would consist of four main elements:

·        The lowest anchor point, ramp, landing area and cart;

·        The swing and platform;

·        The highest anchorage point;

·        Connection via two tensioned cables, traversing the quarry between both anchorage points. These would be fixed in place by pairs of upright steel columns on concrete pad footings.

The site was partially located within the North West Wales Slate Landscape World Heritage Site along with the Dyffryn Ogwen Landscape of Outstanding Historic Landscape with the Penrhyn Quarry scheduled monuments nearby. It was noted that the starting point of the ride and the main Zip-World centre, including the car park, were located outside the World Heritage site designation.

Reference was made to the Policy PS 14 of the Local Development Plan (LDP) which supports proposals to develop a local year-round thriving tourism industry. Policy TWR 1 reflects this by supporting proposals for new visitor attractions or facilities, or to improve and extend the standard of existing facilities. It was highlighted that policy TWR 1 requires proposals to conform with criteria relating to the use of a suitable previously used site, the use of a site closely related to other existing buildings and the development of an activity which is restricted to a specific location. Given the use of the surrounding site as a popular tourist destination, and the post-industrial nature of the location and the economic benefit likely to derive from the development, it was deemed that this development would enhance and extend the range of facilities available for visitors in a way consistent with the principles of these policies.

It was reported that the proposal site was located within the catchment area of the quarry's activities which include the existing Zip  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.