Agenda item

Extend Holiday season from 8 months to 10.5 months for holiday purposes

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor John Brynmor Hughes

Link to relevant background documents

DECISION: To approve with conditions

1.    Restrict the use of the site to the period between 1 March in one year to 15 January the following year.

2.    Holiday use only and a register must be maintained of all users.

3.    All internal and external signs to be in Welsh only or bilingual with a priority given to the Welsh language.

Note - Licensing Officer

To extend the holiday season from 8 to 10.5 months for holiday purposes

a)                  The Senior Development Control Officer highlighted that this was an application to extend the period the units can be used on the existing static caravan site from 8 months (between 1 March until 31 October) to 10.5 months (between 1 March until 15 January of the following year). The proposal would increase the occupancy period by 3.5 months in the year, however, there was no intention to add to the existing number of static caravans, namely 32.  There would be no alterations or additions to the existing facilities on the site. As part of the application, a Design and Access Statement was submitted and the documents explain the background of the application and note that there has been a significant increase in the demand for holidays over Christmas and New Year. It was also noted that the site was a permanent and long-established site with high-quality units that were suitable for winter use.

This application was brought before the Committee in accordance with the delegation scheme as the surface area of the site was greater than 0.5ha.

It was considered that the proposal would not exacerbate the current situation regarding the impact of the static caravans on the environment, as they were already located on the site throughout the year and it was not intended to increase their number. Since no changes would be made to the visual amenities of the AONB, the proposal was considered acceptable on the grounds of the requirements of Policy AMG 1 of the LDP. It was also considered that amending the occupancy period under the Local Planning Authority's policies was acceptable, by imposing appropriate conditions to set the new holiday period and to ensure the use of static caravans for holiday use only and that a comprehensive register was kept of all unit users.

b)            Taking advantage of the right to speak, the Local Member noted:

·         That the application was being submitted because the caravan owners had made a request to the applicant to be able to go to their caravans outside the season

·         The application was fair

·         The caravans were good quality and suitable for all weathers

·         The site was in a good condition, was well-organised and clean

·         That policies supported the influx of visitors over the winter - creating work locally

·         He was supportive of the application.

c)            It was proposed and seconded to approve the application

d)            During the ensuing discussion, the following observations were made by members:

·         A register needed to be kept

·         The owner had the right to be open for 12 months

RESOLVED: To approve with conditions

1.    Restrict the use of the site to the period between 1 March in one year to 15 January the following year

2.    Holiday use only and a register must be maintained of all users.

3.    All internal and external signs to be in Welsh only or bilingual with a priority given to the Welsh language.

Note - Licensing Officer