Agenda item

Proposed upgrading of facilities comprising siting 10 touring units and 6 Glamping Pods in lieu of 25 tents authories via Lawful Use Certificate C12/1554/44/TC

 

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Gwilym Jones

 

Link to relevant background documents

DECISION:

 

To delegate powers to the Planning Manager to approve the application, subject to the following conditions:

1.    Time.

2.    In accordance with the plans.

3.    Restrict the number of touring units to 10 touring units, 6 pods and 50 tents. 

4.    Holiday use only and keep a register.

5.    Holiday season - 1 March to 31 October.

6.    Pods to be moved to a storage site shown on the plan between 1 November and 29 February. 

7.    Complete the landscaping work in the first planting season.

8.    In accordance with the recommendations of the Ecology Report.

 

·         Notes: Attention is drawn to the observations of the Caravan Licensing Officer

·         Notes: Attention is drawn to the observations of Natural Resources Wales regarding having a flood plan in place.

 

Upgrade facilities including the installation of 10 touring units and 6 glamping pods to replace 25 tents authorised by a Lawful Use Certificate C12/1554/44/TC

 

Attention was drawn to the late observations form.

 

a)    The Planning Manager highlighted that this was a full application to upgrade facilities including the installation of 10 touring units and 6 glamping pods to replace 25 tents authorised by a Lawful Use Certificate C12/1554/44/TC at Tyddyn Adi site, Morfa Bychan. The work would also include landscaping between the caravan pitches and landscaping to enclose the pod sites.

 

Attention was drawn to the observations of the Community Council which had objected to the application as the glamping pods appeared to be a permanent feature. It was reported that additional information had been received from the applicant, noting that the pods were one-room and were mobile and could be stored away at the end of the season.

 

Reference was made to policy TWR 5 of the LDP which permits proposals to develop new touring caravan sites and temporary alternative camping accommodation provided they conform to all the criteria noted. It was considered that the design, layout and appearance of the proposal was of an acceptable quality and that it was located in an unobtrusive location that was well hidden by the existing landscape features. It was not believed that exchanging the units from tents to caravans and pods would cause substantial harm to the visual quality of the landscape in this site.

 

It was highlighted that the site plan noted that it was not intended to install hard standings for the units and the Planning Statement stated that it was not intended to connect the pods to the drainage system. The pods will be moved to a storage site over the winter, therefore, the physical connection to the ground will be restricted. Shower and toilet blocks already exist on the site, and the users of the proposed caravans and pods use the existing provision. There is no intention to build a new building as a part of the application.

 

In the context of the visual amenities, it was noted that the site lies in a rural location. It was considered that the site on the whole was well screened from the vast majority of viewpoints, with weak points here and there in the landscape. It was reiterated that the site was visible from the public footpath but that the plan showed a proposal to landscape with a low density layout, open spaces and rows of hedges within the site.

 

Reference was made to the fact that a section of the field was located within flood zone C2 and should it be a new development, it would be contrary to policy. However, considering the fall-back position of the site, which already had permission for 75 tents, exchanging the units would not be contrary to policy as it would not increase the risk in this case. It could be argued, due to the reduced numbers, that the risk would reduce.  Considering that only a small section of the field is located within a C2 flood zone and the situation with the existing permission of the site, it is concluded that the proposal would not exacerbate or increase the flood risk in this case. Therefore, it was suggested that the fall-back position meant that the proposal was not contrary to policy TAN 15 and policy PS 6 of the LDP, with an advisory note included to follow the advice of NRW's observations.   

 

Although there was no need to submit a statement on how it was expected for Welsh language considerations to be incorporated into the development, it was noted that the applicant had submitted a language statement on how they intend to give consideration to the Welsh language.

 

Having considered all material planning matters, including local and national policies and guidance, as well as the observations received, it was considered that the proposal was acceptable and that it would not have a substantial harmful impact on the landscape, the amenities of the neighbourhood or road safety.

 

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

·         That he was supportive of the development.

·         Welcomed more space for touring units.

·         That the officer's response to the Community Council's observations about the pods was acceptable.

 

c)    It was proposed and seconded to approve the application.

 

RESOLVED:

 

To delegate powers to the Planning Manager to approve the application, subject to the following conditions:

 

1.         Time

2.         In accordance with the plans.

3.         Restrict the number of touring units to 10 touring units, 6 pods and 50 tents. 

4.         Holiday use only and keep a register.

5.         Holiday season - 1 March to 31 October

6.         Pods to be moved to a storage site shown on the plan between 1 November and 29 February. 

7.         Complete the landscaping work in the first planting season.

8.         In accordance with the recommendations of the Ecology Report

 

•           Notes: Attention is drawn to the observations of the Caravan Licensing Officer

•           Notes: Attention is drawn to the observations of Natural Resources Wales regarding having a flood plan in place.