Agenda item

To consider the report of the Llŷn AONB Service Manager.

The Llŷn AONB Service Manager noted that this report was being submitted before the Joint Committee at the request of the Chair. It was explained that the planning application for 'The Shanty, Abersoch' (Application no. C17/0159/39/LL) was an application to demolish a house and build a new house in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

He reported that the AONB Service, in accordance with a service agreement, had submitted observations on the application to the Planning Service.  Attention was drawn to the following matters in terms of considering the likely impact on the AONB:

·         The site's location on the coast in the AONB. 

·         The visibility of the site from nearby public viewpoints.

·         That there were buildings on the site at present (unlisted)

·         The other buildings nearby (size, design, materials)

·         The size and design of the proposed new building 

·         The materials proposed

·         Potential impact on views from the Coastal Path above the site

He noted that the planning application had been discussed at a meeting of the Planning Committee on 3 July 2017 where it had been resolved to defer a decision in order to carry out a site visit. Attention was drawn to the fact that the application would be discussed by the Planning Committee on 25 September 2017 following a site visit.

Members were given the opportunity to make observations, individual members noted the following main points:

·         The design was not in-keeping historically;

·         The house on the site should be protected by moving it to another location due to its importance as a piece of recent history from the 1950s;

·         The proposed house would be more visible from the sea rather than from the Coastal Path;

·         Concern about the cumulative effect of such developments on the area;

·         The proposed house would be approximately twice the footprint of the existing house; therefore, it would be an over-development of a prominent site and would have a visual impact. Abersoch had lost its character due to planning applications that had been granted over the years;

·         Not in favour or against the proposal. The Council did not have the money to defend planning appeals and developments brought work to local people. The need to consider the impact of planning permissions to demolish and build a house in the area;

·         The proposal was contrary to planning policies as the proposed house did not follow the same footprint;

·         That a house similar to the proposed house was located near the site; 

·         Approving the application would set a precedent and there was a duty on the Joint Committee to object the application.

RESOLVED to submit the following observations for the attention of the Planning Service in relation to the planning application of 'The Shanty, Abersoch' (application no. C17/0159/39/LL):

Ø  That the Llŷn AONB Joint Advisory Committee objected to the application on the following grounds: 

·         The proposal would be an over-development of this prominent site with a substantially larger foot print than the present dwelling. 

·         The development would be intrusive.

Ø  That the Joint Advisory Committee was concerned about the cumulative impact of such developments on the AONB.