Agenda, decisions and minutes

None received.

Declarations of interest were made as follows –

Councillor Nicola Roberts in respect of applications 6.1, 10.1 and 11.2

Councillor Victor Hughes in respect of application 7.5

Councillor Richard Owain Jones in respect of application 10.1

Councillors Lewis Davies, Ann Griffith, John Griffith, Vaughan Hughes, and Nicola Roberts declared personal interests in respect of application 7.5 on account of the reference to wind turbines within the Plaid Cymru Manifesto but stated that they would consider the application on its own merits.

To submit for confirmation, the minutes of the previous meeting of the Planning and Orders Committee held on 6^th November, 2013.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Planning and Orders Committee held on 6^th November, 2013 were presented and confirmed as correct subject to expanding on the address made by Councillor Ann Griffith in respect of application 7.4 as at page 14 to include comments which she had made explaining the political pressure which she had felt under leading to the consideration of the application and also comments regarding intervention by multi-national corporations. In addition she had made reference to what she believed to be a lack of care shown towards Councillors and what she had felt regarding the process.

To submit the minutes of the site visits held on 20^th November, 2013.

The minutes of the site visits held on 20^th November, 2013 were presented and confirmed as correct.

The Chair announced there would be Public Speakers in respect of applications 7.1, 7.6, 8.1, 11.1 and 11.3.

6.1 34C553A – Ty’n Coed, Llangefni

6.2 41C125B/EIA/RE – Bryn Eryr Uchaf, Menai Bridge

6.3 42C114A – Tai’n Coed, Pentraeth

6.4 44C294B – Plas Newydd, Rhosybol

6.1 34C553A – Outline application for residential development including extra care facility, highway and associated infrastructure at Ty’n Coed, Llangefni

Councillor Nicola Roberts declared an interest in this application and did not take part in any discussion and voting thereon.

It was resolved to defer consideration of the application in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation for the reason given in the written report.

6.2         41C125B/EIA/RE – Full application for the erection of three 800kw - 900kw wind turbines with a maximum hub height of up to 55m, rotor diameter of up to 52m and a maximum upright vertical tip height of up to 81m, improvements to the existing access to the A5025 road together with the erection of 3 equipment housing cabinets on land at Bryn Eryr Uchaf, Menai Bridge

It was resolved to defer consideration of the application to allow a site visit to be undertaken in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation for the reason given in the written report.

6.3         42C114A – Outline application for the erection of an agricultural dwelling together with the installation of a septic tank at Tai’n Coed, Pentraeth

It was resolved to defer consideration of the application in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation for the reason given in the written report.

6.4          44C294B – Full application for the erection of two 20kw wind turbines with a maximum hub height of 20.5m, a rotor diameter of 13.1m and a maximum vertical upright height of 27.1m on land at Plas Newydd, Rhosybol

It was resolved to defer consideration of the application in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation for the reason given in the written report.

7.1 10C118A/RE – Bryn yr Odyn, Soar

7.2 14C135A – Glasfryn, Ty’n Lon

7.3 19C1052C – RNA Club, St David’s Road, Holyhead

7.4 28C483 – Sea Forth, Warren Road, Rhosneigr

7.5 30C713 – Bryn Mair, Llanbedrgoch

7.6 45C438 – Bryn Gwyn, Newborough

7.1          10C118A/RE – Full application for the siting of a 15MW solar array farm on land adjacent to Bryn yr Odyn, Soar

At its meeting held on 6^th November, 2013. The Members elected to undertake a site visit prior to making its determination. The site visit took place on 20^th November, 2013.

The Chair invited Mr Berwyn Owen to address the Committee as an objector to the proposal.

Mr Owen referred to –

·         The scale of the development at 74 acres.

·         The potential adverse impact of the development on a Special Landscape Area, on the national cycle route and on tourism.

·         The proposal’s visual impact.

·         The cumulative effect of this proposal with the Tai Moelion scheme.

·         Comments made by the Countryside Council for Wales.

·         Green energy policies refer specifically to solar panels on residential/domestic projects rather than to projects on this scale.

·         The Committee is asked to reject the application on account primarily of its effects on landscape and on the character of this part of the countryside but also due to the lack of policy guidance in respect of solar farms on this scale, or at least to defer consideration of such applications until a specific policy is adopted.

There were no questions for Mr Berwyn Owen from the Committee’s Members.

The Chair then asked Mr George Meyrick to speak to the Committee in support of the application.

Mr Meyrick introduced himself as Chair of the Bodorgan Estate which is a major long term investor in the economy of Anglesey, and he proceeded to highlight the positives of the proposal as follows –

·         The Estate should retain significant control over the solar farm notwithstanding external funding will also be required.

·         The Bodorgan Estate spends approximately £1,000,000 annually on repairs and maintenance alone on people’s homes and farms as well as cultural and heritage assets.

·         This will be one of the very few solar farms in the UK that will operate as locally-owned electricity generating company.

·         It is a good project in terms of community benefit.

·         The project is in the right location where there will be no unacceptable landscape or visual impact locally in the wider context or cumulatively.

·         The proposal reflects both local and national planning policy for renewable energy in a responsible manner with very limited local impact.

·         The proposal is supported by Planning Officers and there have been no objections from statutory consultees.

Members of the Committee questioned Mr Meyrick on the following matters -

·         The impact of this development on the agricultural heritage of Anglesey and on tourism.

·         The potentially disruptive effects on narrow roads and on local amenities of the delivery and construction phase of the proposed development.

·         The omission of Gwalchmai from the community  benefits of the scheme,

·         Whether the Bodorgan Estate intended to apply for further similar developments in the area on account of a concern regarding the cumulative effects of this and other similar developments on that area.

Mr Meyrick said that the development has to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.1 46V149N/ECON/FR – Trearddur Bay Hotel, Lôn Isallt, Trearddur Bay

8.1  46149N/ECON/FR – Full application for the erection of 27 holiday cottages, 9 garden rooms as an extension to the hotel accommodation, reception office building, creation of a new vehicular and pedestrian access together with landscaping at Trearddur Bay Hotel, Lôn Isallt, Trearddur Bay

The application was called in by the Local Member.

The Chair invited Mr David Middleton to speak to the Committee in support of the application.

Mr David Middleton introduced himself as the appointed agent for the applicant and addressed the Committee as follows –

·         The proposal involves the provision of 27 holiday cottages and 9 hotel garden rooms which will be developed in a sustainable location within easy walking distance to the centre of Trearddur Bay and all of the shops, services and facilities available.

·         A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment positively concludes that the development would not be intrusive in the wider landscape with the design and layout of the holiday cottages and garden rooms being landscape led having evolved through pre application discussion with Anglesey Council.

·         Landscape and Planning Officers at Anglesey Council have been heavily involved in influencing the layout of the development and have had a direct input into the overall mass and design of the accommodation.

·         There are no objections to the application by any of the statutory consultees.

·         The economic benefits from the development will be significant and are a material consideration in support of the application.  It is estimated that the development will contribute an additional 700k per annum to the Trearddur Bay local economy.

·         This monetary spin off will directly benefit local businesses in Trearddur Bay and will sustain the hotel as one of the main holiday accommodation providers and largest employees in the area.

·         As part of the application, the applicant has agreed to make a £30k section 106 contribution to improve car parking in Trearddur Bay and to provide a pedestrian crossing point in the village centre.

·         The application is supported at both national and local planning policy level and the Committee report confirms that there is no conflict with the Development Plan or the policies that apply in this respect.

Members of the Committee asked Mr Middleton a number of questions about the design of the holiday cottages and their use on an all year basis and whether this was an overdevelopment; whether recruitment to the five additional permanent posts would be from the locality, and conformity with Welsh Language policy.

Mr Middleton in reply explained that he was aware of local objections in relation to over-development and he said that the scheme was discussed in detail with Officers who heavily influenced the site layout and design. The holiday cottage development is focused in a less obtrusive area to the south west of the site. There will be environmental and ecological improvements made within the site. The holiday cottage units have been designed to avoid their looking like a quasi- housing estate and provide a mix of development types so that it does  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

None to be considered at this meeting.

None were considered at this meeting of the Planning and Orders Committee.

10.1 24C288A – Hafod y Grug, Cerrigman

10.1 24C288A – Full application for the erection of a dwelling, together with the installation of a private treatment plant at Hafod y Grug, Cerrigman

The application was presented to the Planning and Orders Committee as an application which is contrary to the adopted Ynys Môn Local Plan but that can be supported under the Stopped Unitary Development Plan.

Councillors Nicola Roberts and Richard Owain Jones, having declared an interest in this application withdrew from the meeting during the discussion thereon.

The Planning Development Manager explained that the principle of development is accepted as the proposal is permissible under the provision of policy HP5 of the Stopped Unitary Development Plan. An extant planning permission also exists on the land which further establishes the principle of development.

Councillor Kenneth Hughes proposed that the application be approved and his proposal was seconded by Councillor Victor Hughes.

It was resolved to approve the application in accordance with the Officer’s report and subject to the conditions listed therein. (Councillor W.T.Hughes as Local Member did not vote on the matter)

11.1 18C215 – Swn yr Afon, Llanrhwydus

11.2 34C655 – 2 Ty’n Coed Uchaf, Llangefni

11.3 37C187 – Bryn Garth, Brynsiencyn

11.4 47C121A – Hen Blas, Llanddeusant

11.118C215 – Outline application with access included for the erection of an affordable dwelling, construction of a new access together with the installation of a sewerage treatment plant on land adjacent to Swn yr Afon, Llanrhwydrus, LL68 0SR

The application is brought to the Committee’s attention as the applicant is friends with a relevant officer and the file has been reviewed by the Monitoring Officer.

The Chair invited Sioned Roberts to present her point of view to the Committee.

Miss Roberts highlighted the following points in support of the application –

·         She described her personal circumstances and her family links with Swn yr Afon and Llanrhwydrus.

·         She referred to the difficulties of purchasing a house as she was effectively priced out of the market locally. She gave examples of the number and prices of houses for sale at present.

·         Due to the unaffordability of houses locally, the area has seen older incomers which is sad for the rural community. She was fortunate enough to have been given a piece of land by her parents on which she wished to build an affordable home.

·         Her aspirations for the future were to settle and raise a family in the locality. It would be helpful both for her and for her parents to be living close to each other.

·         In conclusion, she wished to stay within her community close to family and friends and to start a family. She was not asking for planning consent for a large house but simply for a home within the small cluster of houses around her childhood home.

There were no questions for Miss Sioned Roberts from the Committee’s Members.

The Planning Development Manager said that the application conflicts with Development Plan policy and is presented to the Committee only because the applicant is friends with a relevant officer. The application site as proposed is located in the open countryside where strict policies apply and justification for new housing development must be demonstrated.  Other than affordability, no other justification is offered in support of the application which can be considered under relevant housing in the countryside policies. Moreover, the application site is located in a prominent positions where it is considered the development of a new dwelling would have a detrimental impact on the character of the surrounding landscape.

Councillor Kenneth Hughes speaking as a Local Member said that he supported the application on the grounds of policy as well as on Welsh language grounds and he cited Para 9.2.13 of Planning Policy Wales in justification of his position. This paragraph provides for the sensitive infilling of small gaps within small groups of houses or minor extensions to groups. He believed the policy applied in this case given there were 3 houses close by and he did not feel that another dwelling would have an adverse effect on the locality. There were no objections locally to the proposal. In addition the proposal provides an opportunity both to ensure the continuity of the family  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.1 10LPA980A/FR/CC – Pont Ganol, Aberffraw

12.2 11LPA533C/AD/CC – Amlwch Leisure Centre, Amlwch

12.3 19C693A – Former Depot Site, Cross Street, Holyhead

12.4 19LPA988/TPO/CC – Llys Mair, Ty’n y Parc, Mill Bank, Holyhead

12.1     34C655 – Full application for alterations and extensions at 2 Ty’n Coed Uchaf, Llangefni

The application was brought to the attention of the Planning and Orders Committee as the applicant is related to a serving officer as defined within paragraph 4.6.10.The application has been scrutinised by the Monitoring Officer as required under paragraph 4.6.10.4 of the Constitution.

Having declared an interest in the application, Councillor Nicola Roberts withdrew from the meeting.

The Planning Development Manager informed the Committee that a letter of objection had been received by the Planning Office yesterday and given that the Planning Officer had not had sufficient time to consider its content, he was recommending that consideration of the application be deferred.

It was resolved to defer consideration of the application in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation for the reason given.

12.2 37C187 – Outline application with some matters reserved for the erection of a dwelling, together with alterations to the existing access on land adjacent to Bryn Garth, Brynsiencyn

The application was presented to the Planning and Orders Committee as the applicant is a relevant member of staff. The application has been scrutinised by the Monitoring Officer as required under paragraph 4.6.10.4 of the Constitution.

The Chair asked Mr Eric Jones to address the Committee in support of the application.Mr Eric Jones made the following points –

·         The family’s longstanding link with the Brynsiencyn area.

·         The land which forms the application site borders on the current UPD and has been included in the candidate sites register for planning. There are various properties bordering on the land in question and one more dwelling on the site will bear no effect naturally and environmentally and will not be a blot on the landscape.

·         His daughter as the applicant and her husband and their young family have always expressed a wish to live in Brynsiencyn and the community in general will benefit from their presence.

·         That he had faced a similar situation himself in wanting to build a home in the locality and that the Local Member at the time had emphasised the importance of keeping local people within their communities.

·         His daughter and her husband are both employed by Anglesey County Council and wish to make their home where their roots lie.

The Planning Development Manager sated that he proposal is contrary to the Local Plan and the Stopped Unitary Development Plan and is therefore a departure from policies. The Officer explained that there is a definite settlement boundary for Brynsiencyn and the application site lies outside this boundary and is located in the countryside. Given that the application site is on the edge of the settlement there is a policy that applies if the application was for an affordable dwelling. However, it is an application for an open market dwelling and not for an affordable dwelling.

Members queried whether the application would be acceptable were it for an affordable dwelling. The Planning Development Manager explained that there is a relevant policy which allows for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.1 13C183 – Seren Las, Bodedern

13.1 13C183 – Application to determine whether prior notification is required for the erection of an agricultural shed for storage of animal feed and machinery on land adjacent to Seren Las, Bodedern

Members were informed that it was determined that the prior approval of the Local Planning Authority was not required for this development and that it constituted permitted development.

It was resolved to note the report as information.

14.1 Isle of Anglesey County Council (Off Street Parking Places) Various Car Parks Anglesey (1) Order 2013 – Report attached

14.1 Isle of Anglesey County Council (Off-Street Parking Places) Various Car parks Anglesey (1) Order 2013

The report of the Chief Engineer (Highways and Waste Management) was presented for the Committee’s consideration.

It was resolved to support the introduction of an off-street parking order on condition that any new pay and display parking sites are approved by the Executive.