Extend holiday occupancy season to be open year round for
holiday purposes
LOCAL MEMBER:
COUNCILLOR DEWI W ROBERTS
Minutes:
Extension of the
holiday occupation period to be open throughout the year for holiday purposes.
a)
The Planning Manager elaborated on
the background of the application, and noted that this was an application to
extend the occupancy period on the static holiday caravan site, thus
establishing a 12 month holiday season. It was highlighted that the existing
permissions restricted the occupancy of the caravans to between 1 March in one
year and 17 January the following year. The proposal would increase the
occupancy period by around six weeks a year. It was emphasised that there was
no intention to add to the number of static caravans on the site, only to extend
the occupancy period. It was noted that a number of caravan parks had already
been granted permission to extend the occupancy period, and that a precedent
had been set.
It
was noted that Policy TWR 4 supported proposals to extend the holiday season of
existing static caravan and chalet sites provided it could be demonstrated that
the accommodation was being used exclusively for holiday purposes and did not
become the occupant’s main or sole place of residence. It was reported that Haulfryn
Group had its own measures in place to ensure that the static caravans were
only used for holiday purposes and that the owner was not permitted to use the
caravan as a permanent residence. Regardless of these measures, it was
considered that it would be appropriate, should the application be approved, to
include a condition that the static caravans were only used for holiday
purposes and that a register was kept of the names of the caravans' occupiers,
the duration of their stay and the address of their main residences.
Reference
was made to the fact that Haulfryn Group owned five Holiday Parks in Gwynedd,
including The Warren. It was noted that the park was viewed as a valuable
tourism asset for the area and that it provided a number of local jobs. There
was strong demand for holiday accommodation during the February half term and
also for St. Dwynwen's Day and St. Valentine's Day. It was added that Haulfryn
Group offered a letting service on behalf of the caravans' owners to assist
with short stays during the year. Extending
the holiday season would encourage visitors to spend in the local economy,
assist to safeguard local employment and create new employment opportunities
that would lead to further investment.
Currently, there were 60 part-time staff and 40 full-time staff in the
Warren and it was considered that this would change to 80 part-time staff and
55 full-time staff by being open throughout the year.
It
was believed that the application, with appropriate conditions imposed to
ensure that the static caravans were used for holiday purposes only and that a
register be kept, was acceptable on policy grounds. It was reported that
conditions could also be imposed as recommended by Natural Resources Wales in
relation to the flooding matters.
b)
Exercising the right to speak, the
agent on behalf of the applicant noted the following main points:
·
There was strong demand for holiday accommodation
during the February half term and also for St. Dwynwen's Day and St.
Valentine's Day.
·
There was an increase in demand for shorter holidays /
breaks
·
The proposal would support the local economy
·
The company had recently invested £8 million in
upgrading and improving the site
·
Being open 12 months a year would increase the
full-time employment opportunities - The Warren employed many local people
·
The site would use measures to ensure that the static
caravans were used solely for holiday purposes - the register and details of
residents would be retained on a data base and would be updated annually
·
Other parks in Gwynedd already had 12 month occupancy
periods.
c)
A proposal to approve the
application was put forward and seconded.
d) During
the ensuing discussion, the following main observations were noted by members:
·
Attention was drawn to the observations of the AONB
Unit
·
Concern about how the situation would be managed
·
Accept that the holiday season / patterns were
changing – holidays were now taken throughout the year
·
Benefits to the local economy – creating more
employment and business for local shops
·
The site already existed and therefore there would be
no detrimental impact
·
There were no grounds for refusal as a precedent had
already been set
·
A duty to refer any doubts or concerns in relation to
breach of conditions to the Enforcement Unit.
RESOLVED
1. Holiday
use and a register to be kept.
2. Submit
and agree on an updated Flooding Response Plan.
3. Ensure
that the caravans on lower land in the front of the site are bound securely in
position.
Supporting documents: