Plans submitted for more motorhomes at Portmeirion tourist village

The popularity of out of season short breaks has prompted the operators of a famous Italianate-style tourist village on the coast of North Wales to ask for more campervans to be allowed.

A planning proposal has been received by Cyngor Gwynedd (Gwynedd Council) for permission to increase the number of motorhomes allowed at Portmeirion from 23 to 28.

The application also requests an extension to the licensing period for using the motorhome site.

It currently runs from March 1 to October 31, with new plans for it to end on December 31 and to re-start on February 1.

The plans state, this is “to match the operational business activities of the Portmeirion Cyf site”.

The application concerns an 8,520 square metre area at the historic venue.

The tourist honey pot was designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and the 1970s.

Now owned by a charitable trust, the village, with its eccentric, colourful buildings and beautiful surroundings, is also well known as the home of the Festival No 6 and the film location of the cult 1960s TV show, The Prisoner.

Explaining why the change was necessary, applicant Robin Llywelyn, managing director of Portmeirion Cyf, said in the application: “The period between November 1 and December 31 has increased in terms of popularity over the last few years.

“The half term for schools is found during the month of February and there is a demand for camping places at that time.

“We hold a food and craft festival on the first weekend of December every year, and there is a demand for camping places over that period.

“The attraction of Portmeirion village is busy over the Christmas period and we are keen to extend the period to match this.

“The whole site closes during January each year and we wouldn’t want to open the campsite during January.”

The change would only be for “short term” holidays, he said.

Justification for extending the licensing period was also given, as he said more people were choosing short breaks outside of summer months.

Council planners noted the site was located in a “special landscape” area, with some land also designated within the Portmeirion Conservation Area.

They said the design, layout and appearance of the touring site was in an “inobtrusive location”.

They added that the proposed development was of a “high quality” in an area where motorhomes could fit into the landscape.

It was considered the proposal, in terms of scale and increase, and hidden nature of the site, was “essentially acceptable”.

They described the village as a “unique attraction” with a specific operating period and said extending the time period for the site to operate was “not contentious.”

A final decision will be made at a later date.

By Dale Spridgeon – Local Democracy Reporter