Agenda item

7.1  19LPA1038/CC – Maes yr Ysgol, Holyhead

7.1  19LPA1038/CC – Full application for demolition of the existing garages together with the erection of 4 single person dwellings with associated parking at Maes yr Ysgol, Holyhead

The application was presented to the Planning and Orders Committee as the application as it is made by the Council.  At its meeting held on 10 January, 2018 the Committee resolved to visit the site.  The site was subsequently visited on the 17 January, 2018.

Mr Mike Jones (objector to the application) said that he has been a resident of the Morawelon for 68 years. The development of housing in the Morawelon area commenced in the 1950’s which had green areas and open spaces. He said that there were very few people living in the Morawelon estates with cars but during the years more and more people have cars and the removal of garages and parking areas increase cars having to park on pavements and on the highway. He referred to the application at Maes yr Ysgol to demolish existing garages which he considered would increase traffic in the area with the erection of 4 dwellings. The loss of the parking area near the garages will displace vehicles who park there already and they will therefore park in other locations. Mr Jones said that the Morawelon area is in dire need of parking facilities.

The Committee questioned Mr Jones on issues relating to the nearby primary school in the vicinity of the application site and asked whether street parking is worse when children arrive and leave the school. Mr Jones agreed that a high volume of traffic occurs during peak time when children are arriving and leaving the primary school; the road in the area is narrow and lorries travelling to the nearby factory are having to mount the kerb to pass parking vehicles.

Mr Ned Michael (for the proposal) said that the County Council has established a housing development plan to develop social housing on the Island. He said that this scheme at Maes yr Ysgol, Holyhead is the first scheme the County Council has submitted since the last 40 years. The priority of Welsh Government is to build 20,000 affordable housing and to alleviate the number of homeless young people in Wales. The County Council was successful in obtaining a grant from Welsh Government towards it social housing scheme. He referred to the application before the Committee and said that there are 24 garages at the application site with 12 of the garages being used. 7 of these garages are rented by residents of the Morawelon Estate. The application before the Committee is to demolish the garages and to build 4 single storey/single person occupancy dwellings. Mr Michael said that 43 people are currently on the housing register for single person occupancy dwellings in Holyhead. He further said that parking areas of up to 10/11 spaces will be afforded on site.

Councillor R Ll Jones, a Local Member said that he fully supported the need for social housing and especially single occupancy dwellings but necessary consultation needs to be undertaken as to the location of such housing. He expressed that the Morawelon area is in dire need of parking facilities as there are local concerns about cars parking on the highway and also having to park on the pavements.

The Planning Development Manager reported that the application is for the demolition of the existing garages and the erection 4 single person’s dwellings with 10 parking spaces. The application was amended from the 7 parking spaces afforded due to local concerns for parking facilities in the area. The originally submitted scheme has also been amended as regard to the impact on the neighbouring properties and the units have now been located along the boundary of the site with the adjoining primary school. She said that the site visit to the site was conducted when the children were leaving the school in the afternoon and the Highways Authority have raised no objection to the scheme.

Councillor Glyn Haynes said that the site visit took place at 3.00 p.m., when only the youngest children left the school but the main time for children leaving the school is after 3.30 p.m. The Planning Development Manager responded that parking issues during peak periods is a problem at most schools.

Councillor Shaun Redmond said that the Morawelon area is a highly populated area with a considerably amount of small streets which is experiencing traffic problems. He considered that there are numerous empty houses in the Morawelon area which could be adapted into single occupancy dwellings. He said that he considered that this was an overdevelopment and there are already traffic issues in the area and that the application should be refused.

The Senior Engineer (Highways Development Control) said that the application has been evaluated as regard to highway safety as is the case in each planning application. The Highways Authority have raised no objection to the scheme subject to the inclusion of a standard highway condition in regards to car parking facilities.

Councillor T Ll Hughes MBE said that he considered that the authority should consider development of social housing on land that is available due to the recent closure of three schools in Holyhead as part of the Modernisation Programme.

Councillor Kenneth P Hughes said that he supported the programme of building social housing as there is a dire need for such housing on the Island for young people. Whilst he sympathised with the local members as regard to this application he considered that most areas are affected by parking issues near schools. He said that as the proposed development does not have an impact on neighbouring properties he proposed that the application be approved in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation. Councillor Eric W Jones seconded the proposal.

Councillor Shaun Redmond said that he also supported the scheme to build social housing but believed that this application site would equate to overdevelopment in the area and would cause traffic issues. Councillor Redmond proposed that the application be refused and Councillor Glyn Haynes seconded the proposal.

Following the vote it was RESOLVED to approve the application in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation subject to the conditions contained within the written report and an additional condition in relation to excavation.