Planning inspectorate backs Anglesey council’s refusal to grant planning permission for 30 countryside holiday chalets
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The planning inspectorate has backed Anglesey council after officers refused plans for 30 countryside holiday chalets.
Turned down by council planners last year, the proposals also involved a reception building and creating a new lake on land just off the A55 at Penmynydd Farm, Caergeiliog.
According to Anglesey Council’s Planning Department, the proposal entailed a “major development located in an unsustainable location in the countryside” that they did not consider to be a “high quality development” and “would be harmful to the character and appearance of the area.”
As well as 30 chalets and a reception building including a laundry area, the plans submitted by Neil Oldham also involved a fishing lake, parking facilities and a play and picnic area.
But appealing against the decision, the applicants felt that it would create an “attractive” and “economically beneficial” development, urging the planning inspectorate to overturn the council’s view.
Noting that it would create between four and five full-time jobs, it would also boost the local economy through other roles such as cleaning, site and building maintenance, and other such contracted work.
The supporting statement went on to say, “It is clear that the proposal is in fact acceptable and that the grounds for refusal set out by the LPA are unjustified.
“This is because the proposal would successfully integrate into the site without any harmful impact to the visual quality of the area due to the careful design approach adopted and the proposed landscaping measures, which would ensure no harmful impact to views of the site from the A55 (or indeed from the wider area).
“Finally, contrary to the claims made by the LPA, the site is set within walking (and cycling) distance of local settlements and is also within easy reach of bus services in the area, and as such is not set in a unsustainable location.”
But while Welsh Government appointed planning inspector, Siân Worden, agreed with aspects of the applicants’ argument, she upheld Anglesey Council’s decision to refuse.
Her report noted, “All in all, the proposed development would be of a high quality in terms of design, layout and appearance.
“It would be sited in an unobtrusive location, well screened by existing landscape features and where, in time, the units would be further assimilated so that the landscape’s visual quality would not be significantly harmed.”
But noting the site’s distance from local services, based 1.6km from RAF Valley and 2.3km from Caergeiliog, she added: “It is not practicable for most people to walk to and from hot food takeaways at such distances and there does not appear to be a convenience store where daily supplies could be purchased.
“I consider it unlikely that many visitors would be prepared to undertake the, at least 30 minute, round trip on foot to the services available in the neighbouring villages.
“All in all, the proposed development is not sufficiently well-served by local services or public transport for it to be described as accessible by means of active travel and public transport.
“The proposed development would be appropriate in this location under the terms of the relevant policy, Policy TWR 3. It would not have a harmful impact on the character or appearance of the surrounding countryside.
“The proposal would not, however, be in a sustainable location and, being contrary to PPW objectives, that is sufficient reason in itself to refuse the scheme.”
By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter
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