Agenda item

Extend holiday occupancy season to be open year round for holiday purposes

LOCAL MEMBER: COUNCILLOR DEWI W ROBERTS

Link to relevant background documents

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.