Agenda item

12.1  19C1217 – 18 Maes Hyfryd Road, Holyhead

12.2  19LPA1043/CC – Vulcan Street, Holyhead

12.3  20LPA1044/CC – Teilia, Cemaes

12.4  25C228A – 41 High Street, Llannerchymedd

12.5  46C615/AD – Visitor Centre, South Stack Road, Holyhead

12.6  49C333A/FR – Hermon Chapel, Field Street, Valley

 12.1  19C1217 – Full application for change of use of Dwelling C3 to House of Multiple Occupancy C4 at 18 Maes Hyfryd Road, Holyhead

The application was presented to the Planning and Orders Committee at the request of a Local Member.

Mr Craig Stalman (against the proposal) said that the residential street of Maeshyfryd, Holyhead has many elderly and families with various ages.  He said that introducing a House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) could potentially bring these people into contact with persons whom they would normally choose to avoid.  With Maeshyfryd being utilised by children on route to and from school it has the potential to bring these children into direct contact with persons they nor their parents would want them to have contact with.  Parking problems at Maeshyfryd already exist and during the evenings vehicles park on both sides of the road which is a narrow one-way street.  With the introduction of a HMO the potential is to introduce a greater number of vehicles per household and the impact on the residence would be significant.  Due to the one-way system, Maeshyfryd is the main thoroughfare utilised for transport of both commercial and emergency services to Kings Road and Tara Street.  This has already been witnessed by residence when buses have had to reverse down a one-way street.  Mr Stalman further said that HMO’s brings the potential for a larger number of people to be confined within one residence and therefore the associated noise nuisance.  With such numbers of residence in one household it could increase the inherent antisocial behaviour associated with HMO’s and the emotional and psychological impact on the surrounding households and families could be affected.  He further said that the introduction of a HMO would have a negative financial impact on house prices within the area, not only prices falling but also the reluctance of others to purchase close to a HMO.  The Maeshyfryd area already has environmental issues with bin collections and the lack of storage for the recycling bins and black/green bins. With the introduction of a HMO of potentially 6 rooms this could equate to 24 bins alone and this particular property does not have the rear or frontal capacity for such bins.  Therefore the rear lane to the properties would inevitably be used for storage bringing potential vermin and other hygiene issues. 

Councillor R O Jones questioned as to who would be living at this dwelling if the application was to be approved.  Mr Stalman responded that he is given to understand from the neighbouring property who had spoken to the applicant that it is an intention to have professional people living within the individual bedsits.  He said that he did not know as to where all these people were to park their cars as there is a potential of up to 12 cars having to park within the area. 

The Planning Development Manager reported that the application is to change the use of a three floor dwelling into a house of multiple occupation.  She noted that the application was for a 6 bedroomed HMO but the application has been amended to include 5 bedroomed accommodation for HMO’s.  The Housing Department has confirmed that there is a substantial need for this type of accommodation in the Holyhead area.  She further said the dwelling at present has 4 bedrooms with a yard at the rear of the dwelling and the applicant has stated that the yard will be available for the keeping refuse and recycling bins.  The Officer said that the proposal complies with the criteria of Policy TAI 9 and PCYFF2 of the Joint Local Development Plan and it is not considered that the proposal will harm the amenities of adjacent residential properties or the character of the area in relation to development plan policy and the objectives of maintaining sustainable and balanced communities.  She noted that there are only 3 HMO’s in the Maeshyfryd Ward amounting to 0.3%; therefore the proposal would not lead to the proportion of HMO’s in the Ward exceeding the 10% level referred to in Policy TAI 9. 

The Planning Development Manager further reported that there is no designated parking for the dwelling as it located on a one-way street. The objector to the application has stated that there are parking problems on the street but the developer has stated that there are car parking areas in Holyhead and a map was shown to the Committee of the locations of the car parking facilities at the request of a Local Member.   The recommendation is of approval of the application.

Councillor T Ll Hughes MBE, a Local Member and a Member of the Committee, referred to the map of parking facilities which was distributed at the meeting.  He said that the developer has stated that the nearest car parking available is at Hill Street.  Councillor Hughes explained in detail the distance from the dwelling to the Hill Street Car Park and considered that the occupants of the proposed application would not walk such a distance to and from the property.  He said that parking within Maeshyfryd Road and Holyhead in general is problematic.

Councillor K P Hughes said that parking issues are experienced in every town and proposed that the application be approved and Councillor Robin Williams seconded the proposal.

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

12.2  19LPA1043/CC – Full application for the erection of 6 affordable dwellings together with the creation of pedestrian access and 8 parking spaces on land adjacent to Vulcan Street, Holyhead

The application was presented to the Planning and Orders Committee as the County Council is the applicant and landowner.

The Planning Development Manager reported that the application had been withdrawn. 

It was noted that the application had been withdrawn.

12.3  20LPA1044/CC – Full application for the installation of a 3 meter high meteorological station on land at Teilia, Cemaes

The application was presented to the Planning and Orders Committee as the application has been submitted by the County Council.

The Planning Development Manager reported that the proposed station will gather data which will assist in the monitoring of the bathing water quality of Cemaes Bay as the water quality was below the required standard in 2015 and 2016.  She noted that whilst the location site is within an AONB area its size and location will ensure that it will not be seen from any nearby vantage points or dwellings.

Councillor Vaughan Hughes proposed that the application be approved and Councillor Eric Jones seconded the proposal.

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

12.4  25C228A – Retrospective application for retention of the extended curtilage together with the erection of a garage at 41 High Street, Llannerchymedd

The application was presented to the Planning and Orders Committee as part of the proposal would be on land owned by the Local Authority. 

The Planning Development Manager reported that the proposal is a retrospective application for retention of the extended curtilage together with the erection of a garage at 41 High Street, Llannerchymedd.  It is not considered that the development will have a detrimental impact on the surrounding area due to the topography of the site.

Councillor K P Hughes proposed that the application be approved and Councillor John Griffith seconded the proposal. 

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

12.5  46C615/AD – Application for the siting of a non-illuminated sign together with the installation of car parking meter at the car park above the Visitor Centre, South Stack, Holyhead

The application was presented to the Planning and Orders Committee at the request of two Local Members. 

The Chair said that she had receive an email from one of the Local Members requesting that the site be visited as this particular application site was not visited during a site visit to the area last month.  She said that she refused to visit this application site on the day of the site visit as it would be speculation of the decision of the Committee.  The Chair said that the reasons given by the Local Member to visit the site is that the actual area of the application site is small and the Council’s policies would not allow for the siting of a parking meter on an area of less than 20 car parking spaces and also would not enhance the Area of Natural Beauty. 

The Planning Development Manager questioned as to the benefit of visiting the site as a site visit was undertaken at this site last month and decision on two other applications in the area have been refused on traffic and effect on the area matters. 

Councillor T Ll Hughes MBE said that this application site has been used over the year for vehicles to turn around and not used as a car park.  He noted that when buses visit the site with visitors this area has always been used to turn around large vehicles.

Councillor T Ll Hughes MBE proposed that the site be visited due to traffic issues. Councillor K P Hughes seconded the proposal.

It was RESOLVED to visit the site in accordance with the Local Member’s request for the reasons given.

12.6  49C333A/FR – Full application for change of use of disused chapel into a dwelling together with alterations and the construction of a first floor balcony at Hermon Chapel, Field Street, Valley

The application was presented to the Planning and Orders Committee at the request of two Local Members. 

Councillor Richard A Dew, a Local Member requested that the site be visited to allow the members of the Committee to view the site in respect of the effects on neighbouring properties.  He noted that the site opposite has recently been granted planning approval.

The Planning Development Manager reported that the Officer’s report states that only one reason has been given to refuse the application and that is flooding issues and questioned the benefit of visiting the site as the application is contrary to TAN 15 (Development and Flood Risk).

Councillor K P Hughes proposed that the site be visited in accordance with the Local Member’s request.  Councillor Robin Williams seconded the proposal.

It was RESOLVED to visit the site in accordance with the Local Member’s request for the reasons given.