Agenda item

Demolition of existing external store, alterations to existing main house and part single storey, part 2 storey extension to side and rear to create enlarged living accommodation.

Local Member; Councillor Gruffydd Williams

Link to relevant background documents

 

To defer in order to consider the observations of the AONB Joint Committee as part of the officer's assessment

 

Demolition of existing external store, alterations to the existing main house and part single-storey, part two-storey extension to side and rear to create more living space

 

            Attention was drawn to the late observations form.

 

a)    The Senior Officer stated that this was an application to alter and expand the existing property, and that it was a re-submission of a plan previously refused by the Committee (application number C20/0022/42/DT). It was noted that the proposal submitted was an attempt to respond to the previous refusal reasons and that the plan had been amended further in response to observations received during the consultation process. 

 

The application was submitted to the Committee at the local member’s request.

 

The property was located on the slopes of Mynydd Nefyn in open countryside, approximately 340m to the east of the development boundary and 50m outside the Llŷn Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

 

It was explained that the development would include: 

·         Demolishing an existing outbuilding and relocating a stone wall in order to create a parking and turning area

·         Demolishing a rear two-storey extension and a glass side extension

·         Erecting a two-storey extension in the form of a crescent with three dormer windows in the front elevation and footlights in the rear elevation together with the erection of a single-storey extension with a mono-pitch slate roof along its front. 

·         Erecting a balcony on the gable-end of the existing house

 

Slides were shown to exhibit the setting of the existing house, and the refused proposal side by side with the amended plans. It was noted that the scale and size of the proposal had been reduced and although it remained large, the dormer windows reflected traditional design and the porch reduced the prominence of the glass. It was emphasised that the applicant had attempted to respond to the committee's previous concerns.

 

Having considered the observations and objections received, it was suggested that the proposal was an improvement on the previously refused plan in terms of its impact on the landscape, and that it met with local and national planning policy requirements.

 

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

·         The applicants wished to turn Tan y Mynydd into a permanent family residence, and had dreamed of owning a property in the beautiful village of Nefyn.

·         The applicant spent her first holiday at Nefyn, in the old hotel in Pistyll, and her family had resided at the Aberafon Holiday Park in Nefyn since then. The applicants had family in Morfa Nefyn, were life members of Nefyn's sailing club and golf club, and were regular customers at the former Sportsman Hotel. They were now shareholders of Tafarn yr Heliwr, Nefyn.

·         The proposal was not an application for another holiday home, or for a rented property. This was to be their permanent home - their dream. They looked forward to spending many more years in the community with their children and grandchildren.

·         In drawing up the application, they were very aware of the beauty of the landscape and surrounding properties. They were eager for their home to integrate into the landscape, and had therefore chosen not only local builders and merchants, but local supplies as well.

·         Following the concerns expressed following the submission of the original application, they had carefully addressed those concerns, changing many aspects of the proposed plan.

·         The applicants had lived in Wales for over 30 years. Their children were Welsh and their businesses were located in North Wales. They employed around 30 people, and served the local community.

·         They were very passionate about Nefyn. With such sweet and happy memories of the area, they hoped for many more!  They did not want the house to be an eyesore; their wish was to create a beautiful home to be shared with family and friends, appreciating what the beauty of Pen Llŷn had to offer.

·         Tan y Mynydd had stood empty and had deteriorated over recent years. They were keen to give it a new life as a remarkable home on the mountainside, that was in keeping with its surroundings.

 

c)     Taking advantage of the right to speak, the Local Member made the following points:

·         This was a second application to refurbish the house

·         Although there were 'minor adaptations' to the original application, the building would affect adjacent buildings

·         Welsh Government emphasised the need to protect the AONB as with a National Park - policies relating to the AONB safeguarded views in and out of the AONB

·         There was a need to protect the traditional houses

·         It had to be ensured that there was no significant harm to views - policy A1

·         A special meeting of the AONB joint committee had made an unanimous decision to reject the application due to significant harm to AONB settings - these observations were not included in the report and therefore had not been given full consideration (these were included on the late observations form)

·         There was a need to consider Policies HP2 (Housing Density), HP3 (New Housing Developments), HP4 (Housing Proposals), HP6 (Dwellings in open countryside) and PP3 (Dark Sky)

·         The proposal would set a precedent that would cause further impact to the AONB - if permitted, the floodgates would open to similar applications

·         This would 'gentrify' the area

·         The Committee was requested to refuse the application based on the policies listed, to protect the AONB

 

d)    It was proposed and seconded to defer the decision on the application, so that time could be given to consider the AONB joint committee's observations as part of the officer's assessment.

 

   dd)   In response to the proposal, the officer noted that the AONB joint committee's observations had been included on the late observations form circulated on 21/5/21. It was added that the observations had been given full consideration, but that those observations were insufficient to change to Planning Service's recommendation.

           

RESOLVED:  To defer in order to consider the observations of the AONB Joint Committee as part of the officer's assessment