Planning, Taxi Licensing & Rights of Way Committee

The Members confirmed that they had received and had time to read the update circulated the previous day.

Grid Ref: E: 282159 N: 212417 Valid Date: 18/06/24 Community Council: Tawe-Uchaf Community Council Applicant: Mr Mac McHugh Location: Cefnmeusydd, Morgan Street, Caehopkin, Abercrave, SA9 1TS Proposal: Change of use from detached domestic dwelling to detached young persons residential care home Application Type: Full application Councillor D Thomas spoke as the local representative. Councillor S Pyart spoke on behalf of Tawe-Uchaf Community Council. The following spoke as objectors: Mr D Williams, Mr K Williams, Ms D Snailham-Beck, Mr C Maggs and Ms A Evans. Mr M McHugh and Mr Z Snape spoke on behalf of the applicant. The Development Management Team Leader advised that a request had been made for the application to be refused due to the lack of consultation between the applicant and the community. She advised however, that the statutory consultation undertaken by the Local Planning Authority had been completed as required. She referred the Committee to the update report and advised that at the request of Dyfed Powys Police the wording of condition 3 had been amended if the Committee was minded to approve the application. The Committee thanked the speakers. In response to a question the Development Management Team Leader advised that given the level of concerns regarding community safety etc the Case Officer had consulted Dyfed Powys Police. She advised that the Police’s response was a material consideration and advised that as a result of its comments, planning condition 3 had been included which referred to the preparation of a Management Plan. The Development Management Team Leader advised that the Education Department had not been consulted. Comment was made that there are currently six homes within a 5km radius of this proposed development. It was noted that no details had been provided about the existing care homes and whether the residents were “local” to the area, or Powys children or children from out of county. The Development Management Team Leader advised that there was an identified need in the County for such facilities and that Welsh Government supported the provision of such facilities in county. Concerns were raised about the access to the site and the issues raised by the police and comment was made that there is no safe walking route to the site. In response to a question the Development Management Team Leader advised that gates at the entrance to the site could be set back from the access road to reduce the possibility of blocking access to other properties. The Highways Authority confirmed that the provision of seven parking spaces was adequate and above the level required by the CSS Wales Parking Standards 2014. In response to a comment about crime and disorder, the Professional Lead Planning advised that this matter was a material planning consideration but advised that the Management Plan proposed as part of planning condition 3 adequately addressed and mitigated these concerns, in his professional opinion. He also advised that should the Committee be minded to refuse the application for this reason that it was not supported by any evidence of what crime and disorder might occur. It was noted that the objectors had referred to the disproportionate provision of such facilities in a 5km radius. The Professional Lead Planning advised that Policy H3 of the Local Development Plan [LDP] refers to housing development to be at an appropriate scale and shall provide a mix to meet the housing needs of an area. It was moved and duly seconded to defer the application. RESOLVED: Reason for decision: that the application be deferred. To enable further consultation and evidence to be sought regarding the following: · Highways access to site. · The scale, capacity and sufficiency of existing provision in the area to meet future local needs. The Chair referred to the lack of consultation by the applicant with the local community and he hoped they would work with the community prior to any decision being made. The Professional Lead Planning advised this was not a planning matter. Councillor GD Jones having declared an interest left the meeting room for the next application. Councillor A Jones took the Chair.

Grid Ref: E: 321333 N: 308685 Valid Date: 29/04/2024 Community Council: Welshpool Town Council Applicant: Mr G Wright Location: Land At Valley View, Groes-pluen, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 9BW Proposal: Erection of a rural enterprise dwelling and double garage, installation of sewage treatment plant, access and all associated works Application Type: Full application Councillor G Breeze spoke as the local representative. Mr R Corbett and Mr G Wright spoke as the agent and applicant, respectively. Mr Corbett advised that his client was happy to change the garage and that he had advised that the land classification was Grade 3 and above and the site was 0.25 of an acre. It was noted that all statutory consultees had no objections to the application. Comment was made that the application met the financial test but that officers did not consider that it met the functional test. The Professional Lead Planning advised that the Welsh Government’s Planning Policy states that the development of a rural enterprise dwelling in the open countryside must in the first instance meet the functional test and justify that the need relates to unexpected situations that might arise, for which workers are needed to be on hand outside of normal working hours for the particular enterprise. He advised that if the Committee was minded to approve the application contrary to officer’s recommendation, they needed to articulate planning reasons for doing this. It was moved and duly seconded to approve the application contrary to officer’s recommendation because it was considered that the functional need for 24/7 access to the enterprise had been demonstrated, and on-site presence was necessary given frequent reports of thefts of agricultural equipment and that this was a growth sector in the local economy. The mover and seconder agreed that the original footprint of the garage should be retained and that it be delegated to the Professional Lead Planning in consultation with the Vice Chair to agree the planning conditions. RESOLVED: Reason for decision: that the application be granted consent contrary to officer’s recommendation and that it be delegated to the Professional Lead Planning in consultation with the Vice Chair to agree the conditions. that the application met the tests in planning policy and guidance. Councillor GD Jones returned to the meeting and the meeting adjourned for lunch.

Grid Ref: E: 312158 N: 291596 Valid Date: 14/09/2023 Community Council: Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council Applicant: Mr Dean Hammond Location: Unit A, Vastre Industrial Estate, Heol Vastre, Newtown, Powys SY16 1DZ Proposal: Erection of rear extension and racking (proposed) and engineering operations to reprofile land (retrospective) Application Type: Full application The Senior Planning Officer advised that an issue had arisen during the meeting in relation to the speaking arrangements at the Committee and officers recommended that the application be deferred. It was moved and duly seconded to defer the application as recommended by the officers. RESOLVED: Reason for decision: that the application be deferred. As the officers’ recommendation at the meeting. Councillor A Jones having declared an interest left the meeting room for the next item.

Grid Ref: E: 322270 N: 296968 Valid Date: 17/07/2024 Community Council: Montgomery Town Council Applicant: Mr Broxton Location: The Cottage Inn, Forden Road, Montgomery, SY15 6QT Proposal: Erection of 3 residential units and associated works Application Type: Full application The Senior Planning Officer advised that an additional public representation had been received regarding foul sewerage since the agenda had been published. Councillor J Brignell-Thorp spoke as the local representative. Mr G Davies spoke as the agent. It was noted that the Town Council broadly supports the application and that it had sought assurances that the homes would be for residential use rather than holiday lets. In response to a question the Professional Lead Planning advised that if the Committee was minded to approve the application a planning condition could be added to ensure that the units were restricted to Use Class C3 residential use only. It was moved and duly seconded to approve the application as recommended by the officer with the addition of a planning condition regarding limiting the use to Use Class C3 only. RESOLVED: Reason for decision: that the application be granted consent, subject to the conditions set out in the report which is filed with the signed minutes and a condition regarding limiting the use to Use Class C3 only. As officer’s recommendation as set out in the report which is filed with the signed minutes. To restrict the units to residential use only. Councillor A Jones returned to the meeting room. Councillor K Lewis left the meeting.

The Committee received for information a list of decisions made by the Head of Property, Planning and Public Protection during the period between 11 September 2024 and 3 October 2024.

The Committee received the Planning and Environment Decisions Wales [PEDW] letter regarding the appeal in respect of the following application: 23/0124/REM - Capel Glanafon, Waterfall Street, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Powys, SY10 0JX - the Committee noted that PEDW had dismissed the appeal. In response to a question the Professional Lead Planning advised that an enforcement case would be considered. Application decision - Mynydd-y-Drum Common and Land at Abercrave Station, Ystradgynlais, Tawe Uchaf and Seven Sisters, Powys & Neath Port Talbot – the application was approved.

The Chair presiding at the Taxi Review Panel held on 9 July 2024 was authorised to sign the minutes as a correct record.