Agenda item

12.1 19C1145 – Harbour View Bungalow, Turkey Shore Road, Holyhead

12.2 20C289A/DEL – Foreshore adjacent to Harbour, Cemaes

12.3 25C28C – The Bull Inn, Llanerchymedd

12.4 36LPA827B/CC – Bodhenlli, Cerrigceinwen

(Report to follow)

12.1    19C1145 – Full application for the erection of an annexe at Harbour View Bungalow, Turkey Shore Road, Holyhead

The application is presented to the Planning and Orders Committee as it has been called in by a Local Member.

The Planning Development Team Leader reported that the recommendation is now to defer consideration of the application pending the receipt of Certificate B on the road.

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

12.2    20C289A/DEL – Application under Section 73 for the removal of condition (03) (temporary permission) from planning reference 20C289 (Installation of a “Time and Tide” Bell) at Foreshore, adjacent to Harbour, Cemaes

The application is presented to the Planning and Orders Committee as it is on land owned by the Council which is rented by Crown Estates.

The Planning Development Team Leader reported that the Time and Tide Bell was installed in April, 2014 in its approved location and no adverse comments from neighbours have since been received. The Environmental Health Officer has been consulted and has confirmed that he has no observations to make on the application.

Councillor Richard Owain Jones proposed that the application be approved and his proposal was seconded by Councillor Kenneth Hughes

It was resolved to approve the application in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation.

12.3    25C28C – Full application for the demolition of the existing public house and associated buildings at The Bull Inn, Llanerchymedd

The application is presented to the Planning and Orders Committee as it has been called in by a Local Member.

The Planning Development Team Leader reported that the application was received originally as prior notification of the intention to demolish the existing public house and associated buildings in order to check whether the Council requires prior approval of the method and details of demolition. It is this requirement which is the subject of consideration. The Officer said that the proposed demolition has generated a great deal of concern locally because the building is considered to be of historic significance to the locality. Information has been received regarding the method of demolition and the subsequent restoration of the site to which the occupant of the neighbouring property has objected on account of party wall concerns. In terms of the proposed method of demolition and site restoration, the recommendation is to approve the application.

Councillor John Griffith spoke in his capacity as a Local Member and clarified that comments about the “town already dying” attributed to him by the written report at section 3 had not in fact been made by him, and that he believed the opposite to be true  - that the village with its  conscientious community council, its bright and confident primary school and its host of industrious and busy organisations is an excellent model for other communities on how to flourish and progress for the betterment of the community. In calling in the application he referred to the following:

•           Strong opposition locally to the proposal including from the community council.

•           The long history of the building which is considered locally as an important and integral part of the village’s history and heritage which aspects are reflected in some of the letters of objection extracts from two of which Councillor Griffith read out.

•           The omission from the  written report of any reference to  the building’s historical significance which would have been brought to the Planning Service’s attention by one of the letters of objection at the time of the original application in January, 2015.

•           That Section 3 of the Conservation Areas Act 1990 gives local planning authority the power to serve building preservation notices in respect of buildings of special architectural or historical interest and in danger of demolition or alteration as to affect their character as buildings of such interest. Under the same legislation it is also possible to apply to CADW for spot listing for buildings under imminent threat of alteration or demolition.

•           That the Planning Service has not had any regard for the building as a special building to be protected and while the Council cannot now  make an application for spot listing as the 28 days’ notice period has expired, the Community Council is investigating what steps need to be taken in order to do so.

•           The need for the Planning Service to consult with the Council’s Conservation officer in respect of the building, and to consider the benefit of making inquiries with CADW or investigating any other avenue to safeguard the building.

•           Obligations arising from party wall legislation. Details provided by the applicant do not explain how the shared roof and party wall with the adjacent property will be dealt with in terms of remedial works, or reinstatement thereof.

•           The need to undertake a bat survey

•           Clarification of what will replace The Bull at that location.

Councillor John Griffith asked the Committee to consider deferring determination of the application to allow consultation to take place with the Council’s Conservation Officer and with CADW on possible preservation options and also to allow time for the Community Council to complete its own inquiries with CADW.

The Planning Development Team Leader said that it is the method rather than the principle of demolition that is under consideration and that any proposal to develop the site is a matter for a future application. With regard to the reference made to legislation in respect of listed buildings in a conservation area, that provision applies to existing listed buildings rather than to ordinary buildings; if The Bull was a listed building, the application for demolition would be considered under different terms as an application to demolish a listed building. It is possible under the legislation for the Council to serve a notice of protection on the building and at the same time, to apply to CADW for listed building registration. The notice would be in force for six months during which time CADW would be expected to confirm listed building status and the application would then be dealt with as a listed building application. Should CADW determine that the building does not meet the necessary criteria for listed building status then the applicant could seek compensation from the Council for any losses incurred from not being able to carry out development works. Initial discussion with the Conservation Officer indicates that the Officer believes The Bull to be a Victorian building which has undergone numerous alterations since. Issuing a Building Preservation Notice would require research into the building’s history prior to submitting a report to full Council for approval to issue the notice which is a process that is likely to take some time to complete giving rise in turn to the risk that an appeal for non-determination may be lodged in the meantime. Party wall concerns are a legal matter under separate legislation.

There was a general consensus within the Committee that efforts should be made to retain The Bull as a building of local historical interest and avenues to that end be explored. Councillor Kenneth Hughes proposed that determination of the application be deferred and his proposal was seconded by Councillor Vaughan Hughes.

It was resolved to defer determination of the application in order for the Council to obtain the comments of the Conservation Officer on The Bull Inn, Llanerchymedd (Councillor John Griffith did not vote on the application)

12.4    36LAP827B/CC – Full application for the erection of an agricultural shed at Bodhenlli, Cerrigceinwen

The application is presented to the Planning and Orders Committee because the site lies within Council owned land.

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

It was resolved to approve the application in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation subject to the conditions listed in the written report.