Change of use of former Church into holiday unit.
LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Anwen Davies
Minutes:
Change of use of a former Church into a
holiday unit
(a) The
Development Control Manager elaborated on the background of the application and
noted that the church had been empty for some time and that it had already
changed ownership from the Church in Wales to private ownership.
Attention
was drawn to the additional details that had been received from the agent at
the officers' request.
It
was noted that the proposal was acceptable in principle and in accordance with
policies B3, C4 and D15 of the GUDP. It
was explained that the proposal mainly intended to restore the building and due
to the site's location in open countryside, it was not considered that the
proposal would disrupt the amenities of the site or the area.
Attention
was drawn to the concern raised during the public consultation that the
proposal would disrupt access to the cemetery. It was noted that confirmation
had been received from the Church in Wales that they still owned the cemetery
and that it would continue to be open to the public.
It
was noted, after receiving additional information from the agent, that the
recommendation had changed to what was noted in the report and that it was now
recommended to delegate powers to the Senior Planning Manager to approve the
application subject to receiving plans relating to the bat roost and to the
receipt of favourable observations from the Biodiversity Unit to those plans,
receipt of the details regarding the provision/installation of services in the
building along the path and to relevant conditions.
(b) The local member (not a member of this Planning Committee) noted
the following main points:-
·
That the families of those who had been buried in
the cemetery were concerned that the graves would be disrespected;
·
That a fence should be installed around the
building and for that to be done before the house could be let;
·
That there was a need to secure official
confirmation that public access to the cemetery would continue.
(c) In response to the local member’s observations, the Development Control
Manager noted:-
·
The only guarantee that could be accepted in terms
of access to the cemetery was the confirmation received from the Church in
Wales noting that it would continue;
·
That there was a duty to protect the listed
building and prevent its deterioration;
·
Concern regarding the installation of a solid fence
as the Church was a grade II listed building and agreement would be needed from
CADW in terms of how to define the boundaries.
Consideration could be given to the installation of chains on poles to
mark the boundaries and a condition could be imposed to this end.
(ch)
It was proposed and seconded to approve
the application in accordance with the recommendation and to add the condition
to agree on a method of defining the boundaries.
During
the ensuing discussion, the following main observations were noted:
·
Chains would not prevent children from entering the
cemetery; therefore, a fence should be used as it would create a barrier;
·
There was a need to be pragmatic in terms of using
such buildings and the attractive architecture of the Church should be
protected;
·
Something low-lying would be an acceptable boundary
treatment so as not to take away from the listed element;
·
What would be the period for letting the holiday
accommodation?
·
Glad that work was being done to retain the
building;
·
The applicant should be requested to give the
building a Welsh name.
(d) In response to the above observations, the
Development Control Manager noted:-
·
That there was a need to bear in mind that it was a
public cemetery and that nothing prevented children from entering the cemetery
at present;
·
As it was an application for a one-bedroom holiday
accommodation property, that it was highly unlikely to attract families with
children there to stay;
·
That the Committee was requested to allow officers
to decide on the boundary treatment;
·
That the holiday accommodation would be available
to let throughout the year and that a register would be kept to prove the use
and it would not be the primary residence of any person;
·
That the applicant could be requested to give the
building a Welsh name.
RESOLVED to
delegate powers to the Senior Planning Officer to approve the application
subject to the receipt of plans relating to the bat roost and to receive
favourable observations from the Biodiversity Unit regarding those plans, to
receive the details of providing/installing the services in the building along
the path and to relevant conditions relating to:
1. 5 years
2. In accordance with the plans and
recommendations in the bat report
3. Conditions
relating to the first floor
4. Conditions
relating to work on the roof
5. New
timber door
6.
The original door to be retained within/as part of the building at all
times
7. Conditions
relating to the secondary glazing
8.
Lime render and plaster work
9. Some
of the original pews must be retained within the building at all times (to be
agreed with the LPA before commencing the work)
10. Conditions
relating to archaeological work
11. Photographic record
12. Bat
conditions
13. Holiday use only/keep a register
14. To reach agreement on the boundary
treatment.
Supporting documents: