Agenda item

12.1  19C251U/FR/TR – Land opposite Travel Lodge, Kingsland Road, Holyhead

12.2  39C18C/2/VAR – Plot 10, Ty Mawr, Menai Bridge

 12.1  19C251U/FR/TR – Full application for change of use of vacant land into a car rental site which includes an office on land opposite Travel Lodge, Kingsland Road, Holyhead

The application was presented to the Planning and Orders Committee at the request of a local member.

The Planning Development Manager reported that application is to change the use of the site into a car rental use with an associated office in a porta-cabin and car valet canopy where vehicles would be cleaned.  The proposal entails the creation of a tarmaced compound for the parking of 22 rental vehicles and 7 customer car parking spaces.  It is anticipated that up to 5 persons will be employed within the application site.   She noted that the application was call-in to the Committee for determination by a Local Member due to traffic and parking issues near the site and concerns as regard to the site location which is near the A55.  The Officer said that the Highways Authority nor the Welsh Government Highways Agency have objected to the application but a construction management plan dealing with the construction and operation of the proposed development has been stipulated by the Highways Authority.  Drainage and surface water comments are awaited as regard to the application.  She further noted that details of the equipment to be used, hours of operation and noise levels from the proposed development have been submitted to the Environmental Service who are at present assessing the matter.   The application site is within a C2 flood risk zone but the application has been deemed to be categorised as less vulnerable development under the provision of policy TAN15 within the JLDP. 

The Officer said that the application site was formally occupied by shopping units but the site was cleared and has been vacant for many years and therefore no valid planning use exists on site. Due to no valid planning use, Natural Resources Wales have objected to the application as the Flood Consequences Assessment submitted with the planning application has not demonstrated compliance with TAN 15.  She noted that as the development is for car lease facility with a porta cabin on site the level of risk of flooding is deemed low.  Added to this, substantial positive weight can be attributed to the economic development in terms of the creation of 5 jobs and urban regeneration and improvement to the visual amenities of the site would accrue from the development.  The recommendation is of approval of the application.

Councillor T Ll Hughes MBE as a Local Member said that whilst it is accepted that the application site has been vacant for many years and needs to be developed he questioned whether a car leasing facility was appropriate on this site.  He said that he had concerns as to the level of traffic already near this application site.  He noted that the site lies near the Fire Station, the A55 and also lay-byes which are used for parking.    He also said that flooding problems has occurred within this area of the application site. 

The Planning Development Manager addressed the issues raised as regards to car parking issues and said that the intention of the developer is to target service users who travel to and from the ferries within the port of Holyhead and train station.   She noted that the lay-byes near the site should not be used as long term parking areas and it may be a matter for the Highways Authority to consider enforcing a limited time period for parking on these lay-byes.  The Officer said that this matter would be considered separately to this application.

Councillor Robin Williams proposed that the application be approved and Councillor Eric W 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.

12.2  39C18C/2/VAR – Application under Section 73 for the variation of condition (09) of planning permission reference 39C18H/DA (erection of 21 dwellings) so as to amend the external appearance at Plot 10, Ty Mawr, Menai Bridge

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

The Chair said that Councillor R Meirion Jones, a Local Member has requested that the site be visited

Councillor Robin Williams as a Local Member said that the reason Councillor R Meirion Jones has requested that the application site be visited was that there are concerns within the Ty Mawr Estate as regards to the context of this application.  Councillor Robin Williams proposed that the site be visited and Councillor Eric W Jones seconded the proposal.  The reason given for the site visit was the possible effects on neighbouring properties.

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