Planners refuse Mynydd Nefyn plans described as more “suited for Beverly Hills”

Much opposed plans to extend a home overlooking one of Llŷn’s major towns has been rejected, with councillors describing the proposals as “more suited to Beverly Hills than Mynydd Nefyn.”

Meeting on Thursday, Gwynedd Council’s planning committee went against officers’ advice in refusing the plans at Tan y Mynydd, Mynydd Nefyn, citing the visual impact and it would “open the floodgates” for similar developments.

Before the meeting, local councillor Gruff Williams claimed that parts of the peninsula were already a “no-go area” in terms of locals being able to buy houses, adding his belief that planning guidelines were actively working against them.

The applicants stressed their links to the area, with Claire Bevan stressing that it would be a family rather than holiday home, “This is our forever home and our dream, looking forward to many more years in the community,” she added, noting that the extension would integrate into the landscape and that the building had started falling into disrepair.

Officers noted that the plans would “significantly expand the footprint of the home,” including an additional bedroom by demolishing an existing extension and conservatory and replacing it with a newer extension and removing the render – having bought it for £330,000 last year.

On balance, however, they did not feel it would cause undue visual harm.

But Cllr Williams cited the opposition of not only Nefyn Town Council but also the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) and the authority’s

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) officer, due to its standing well within view of the designated Llŷn AONB.
“The AONB should be protected in the same way as the national park, would such an application be approved there?” he said.
“This represents a major expansion of the floorspace despite the mountainside traditionally housing whitewashed cottages.
“The would damage the very area we should be protecting and open the floodgates for rising house prices, which has already happened after the Plas Pistyll debacle.
“Are we going to end up driving locals out of Nefyn so that some people can secure their dream home? People are furious.”

Cllr Eric Merfyn Jones described the plans as “out of place” and “overdevelopment,” urging members “not to allow another Abersoch to develop.”
“We need to retain the character of these 19th century houses and not build castles where our forefathers’ homes once stood,” he added,

Cllr Gareth Jones added that the “overbearing” plans would be “suitable for the slopes of Beverly Hills but not Mynydd Nefyn,” while Cllr Steve Churchman claimed it would “destroy the very thing tourists come here to enjoy.”

There was one voice of support, however, with Anne Lloyd Jones believing the “high quality” plans represented an improvement without causing undue harm to the landscape.

But Cllr Seimon Glyn stressed the role of planning in protecting the language and local people as well as the landscape, believing it would cause “a race” to snap up more of the hillside properties for similar developments.

“Do we really want another Abersoch on Mynydd Nefyn?” he concluded.

Members voted by 11 votes to one to refuse the plans.

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter