Agenda item

7.1 28C472E – Cartref, Station Road, Rhosneigr

7.1       28C472E – Full application for the erection of 2 dwellings (one which will include a balcony) on land adjacent to Cartref, Station Road, Rhosneigr

The application was reported to the Planning and Orders Committee as the proposal is contrary to Joint Local Development Plan (JLDP) policies but is one which the Local Planning Authority is minded to approve.

The Planning Development Manager reported that consideration of the application was deferred at the Committee’s previous meeting in December, 2017 to allow the applicant to serve notice of the proposal on the owner of the land on which the access road to the application site lies. The relevant ownership certificates have now been submitted. The proposal as presented is for an amended design to a scheme involving the erection of two dwellings on the site previously approved in September, 2015 under planning reference 28C472B; this is the fall-back position. There are objections to the proposal the substance of which is summarised in the written report. Also, an additional letter has been received from the occupants of the dwelling known as Cartref which reiterates objections previously expressed as well as highlighting concerns regarding the proximity of the gas storage tank serving Cartref to the development. The Officer drew the Committee’s attention to the fact that planning consent is conditional on providing screening along the boundary of the development site with the adjoining properties including Cartref. Officers expect that the screening as proposed will take due account of relevant Health and Safety regulations.

The Officer said that in terms of policy, the application does not comply with current JLDP policies specifically Policy TAI 5 which provides that only local market housing can be supported in areas identified as a Local Service Centre with Rhosneigr having been identified as such a centre. Also, where a development is for the erection of two or more houses, there must be provision of affordable housing as part of the scheme. However, having regard to the fall-back position of there being extant planning permission on site for a dwelling and the likelihood that this will be implemented as well as the fact that the proposed amendments are considered an improvement on the scheme originally approved, the Officer’s recommendation is to approve the application.

In response to assurance sought by the Committee that the matter of land ownership had now been clarified, the Officer confirmed that as part of the process of validating an application appropriate notices have to be served on the relevant landowners; that has now been done with regard to the application in question. In response to the Committee’s seeking clarification of the affordable housing position, the Officer said having regard to the existing planning permission for the erection of two dwellings on the application site which could have been implemented, the Planning Authority will not be asking the developer to meet the affordable housing stipulation which current policy otherwise requires.

On the basis of the fall-back position and the betterment which the amended scheme offers over and above the fall-back position, Councillor Kenneth Hughes proposed that the application be approved in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Robin Williams.

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