Construct 5 single storey houses with one to be an
affordable house.
LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Gruffydd Williams
Link
to relevant background documents
Minutes:
Construction of five one-storey houses with one being an affordable house.
The Members had
visited the site.
(a) The Planning Manager elaborated
on the application's background and explained that the application had been
before the Planning Committee on 25 September 2017, when it was resolved to
defer for the members to visit the site and to give the applicant an
opportunity to respond to the waiting list for allotments received from Nefyn
Town Council.
It was explained that the land, that
was also in the applicant's ownership, had already received planning permission
to construct 10 two-storey dwellings. As
part of the permission it was intended to retain the existing application site
as 16 allotments with a condition on planning permission C12/1372/42/LL to
ensure that this land was used as allotments.
It was highlighted that the applicant (in September 2016) had conducted a
survey of the allotments at Y Ddôl (temporary site) to assess how many of the
21 were in use. From the information
submitted, only 10 out of the 21 allotments with planning permission were being
used. However, Nefyn Town Council noted
to the contrary that there were 37 names on a waiting list for an
allotment. No copy of this waiting list
had been received. Reference was made to
the evidence available and how this had been assessed together with the demand
for allotments and the policy context.
It was explained that the site was situated within the Nefyn development
boundary and therefore the principle of developing the site for housing had to
be considered under Policy TAI 2 LDP. It
was noted that the policy supported the provision of housing within the
development boundary of local service centres.
As part of the
application it was highlighted that the applicant was willing to sign a Section
106 agreement to tie one of the houses as an affordable unit. This would be equivalent to 20% of the
houses and was more than the requirement for Nefyn, and as a result of signing
a section 106 agreement for affordable housing tying one of the units for
affordable need, it was considered that the proposal would satisfy the
requirements of policy TAI 15. In addition,
four of the units would have an internal floor area of approximately 56 square
metres that was within the maximum size for one-storey, two bedroom affordable
houses as recommended in the Supplementary Planning Guidance: Affordable housing namely 80 square
metres.
The
development was acceptable in terms of relevant local and national policies for
the reasons noted in the report.
(b)
Taking
advantage of the right to speak, an objector noted the following points:-
·
That
Maes y Garn allotments needed to be protected because of the importance of the
site in Nefyn's history.
·
That
y Ddôl was merely a temporary site and there was a wish to return to Maes y
Garn once the planning application had been completed.
·
Land
at Y Ddôl was unsuitable - poor, wet land and many of the gardeners had lost
last season's crops.
·
That
improvements to Y Ddôl site had been implemented but this had not improved the
land's condition.
·
Following
a notice in 'Llanw Llŷn' community newspaper - 16 persons had shown an
interest rather than 3 - this was incorrect information.
(c)
It
was proposed and seconded to approve the application.
(ch) During
the ensuing discussion the following points were highlighted by an
individual Member:
·
The
development was within the development boundary.
(d)
In
response to a comment regarding future requirements bearing in mind the
Well-being Act where the applicant could contribute to improving the standards
of the allotments at Y Ddôl, the Senior Planning Service Manager highlighted
that the applicant had shown a willingness to improve the site and a commitment
to a financial contribution.
(dd) In
response to a question regarding the differences between Maes y Garn and Y Ddôl
land in terms of ownership, it was highlighted that Maes y Garn was private
land and Y Ddôl was in the ownership of Gwynedd Council where the Council had a
duty to provide the land - there would be more protection for Y Ddôl land.
(e)
In response to a comments regarding who will live
in the houses, it was highlighted that local people had shown a desire to live
in them. In terms of size, it was
explained that they were affordable houses in their nature and location - on a
site that was convenient for village services.
RESOLVED To delegate powers
to the Senior Planning Manager to approve the application subject to signing a
106 agreement to bind nine of the units for affordable housing and to agree on
an appropriate method to ensure a financial contribution to improve the facilities
of the open space/ play area in the community and also to conditions -
1. Commencement within five years.
2. In accordance with the plans.
3. Agree on a Slate roof
4. Agree on external surface
5. Removal of permitted development rights for
extensions and curtilage buildings for the affordable house.
6. Welsh Water Condition
7. Parking and turning spaces
to be completed in accordance with the plans and to be operational prior to the
property's occupation for the first time.
Supporting documents: