Change of use of former nursing home to
create 4 self contained holiday units, construction of separate buildings to be
used as a swimming pool.
LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Peter Garlick
Link to relevant background documents
Minutes:
Change of use of a
former residential nursing home to create four self-contained holiday units,
erect a separate building to be used as a swimming
pool together with extensions and alterations to the existing building.
(a) The Development Control Team Leader elaborated on the background of the application, noting that the application had been deferred at the Committee meeting held on 25 June
2018, to receive further confirmation from the agent regarding some specific aspects
of the application together
with conducting a site visit. It was noted that the site visit was conducted on 23 July 2018.
Reference was made
to the numbers staying, noting that confirmation
had been received that the number of guests would vary
according to the season but that the likely
number at any one time would
be between 50% and 60% (up to 70 people) of the building's residential capacity.
Attention was drawn to the additional observations received that included
confirmation from the Council's Tourism Service that this type
of provision was scarce in the county.
It was noted that
the road to the site was narrow and winding,
however, it was not considered
that the proposal would entail a substantial obvious increase and harm
in terms of traffic movement compared to the historical use as a residential nursing home. Therefore,
it was deemed that the proposal was not unacceptable in terms of the relevant requirements of policies TRA2 and TRA4 of the
JLDP.
It was explained that there was no control of the current use of the site and this
application would improve the situation. It was noted that observations
were received from the Joint Planning Policy Unit in terms of mitigating
measures to protect and promote the Welsh language. It was recommended to impose an additional
condition to what was stated in the report
in terms of agreeing on signage
and information packs.
The development was acceptable
in terms of relevant local and national policies
for the reasons noted in the report.
(b) Exercising the
right to speak, the applicant’s agent noted the following main points:-
·
That the proposal
complied with Policy TWR2 of the JLDP;
·
The business
plan submitted as part of
the application indicated that the profit that would emanate from
the development would increase;
·
That a transport
assessment had been submitted as part of the application;
·
The Transportation
Unit did not object to the proposal;
·
Bearing in mind the established use of the site, the traffic situation would be no worse;
·
The proposal
was in accordance with local and
national policies.
(c) It was proposed and
seconded to approve the application.
During the ensuing discussion, the following main observations were noted by members:
·
It was a beautiful
building and it needed to be safeguarded from deterioration;
·
Concern regarding
road safety, but use of the site could be controlled
with conditions;
·
Given that
the home's residents had
not been car users, traffic movements would be substantially higher. Enquiring if the entrance was safe;
·
Uncertain of the proposal
with concern that it was an over-development. There would be four sections
for 120 individuals without much control
of the site. With a higher number of persons, around 200, when a wedding was held on the site,
there did not appear to be sufficient seating room for so
many people.
In response to an enquiry from a member regarding the local member's view, the Development Control
Team Leader noted that the local member had concerns about the road.
RESOLVED to approve
the application.
Conditions:
1. Time
2. Compliance
with plans
3. Biodiversity
4. Restrict to holiday use only.
5. Site Management Plan
6. Protecting trees
7. Natural Resources Wales
conditions
8. Welsh Water conditions
9. Materials
10. Restrict the number of
residents
11. Traffic Management Plan
12. Mitigation measures for language impact
Supporting documents: