Agenda item

To consider an application for the erection of 5 Rotunda Roundhouses for holiday let purposes, erection of associated storage shed, alterations and extension to existing access, formation of parking, landscaping and associated works at land to the rear of Kinmel Arms Inn, Llandyrnog (copy attached).

An application was submitted for the erection of 5 Rotunda Roundhouses for holiday let purposes, erection of associated storage shed, alterations and extension to existing access, formation of parking, landscaping and associated works at land to the rear of Kinmel Arms Inn, Llandyrnog, Denbigh.

Public Speakers –

Zac Addison (Agent) (For) – reasons were given for approving the application.  It was confirmed that should something not work, the round houses could be taken down and put back to field.  Access track would cause loss of 10% of land.  There were hedgerows which would grow higher and act as screening.  The application was linked with the Kinmel Arms and want the businesses to work in tandem.  Employment of local people would be beneficial to the local community.  People from the site would visit the Kinmel Arms.  Planning conditions were requested to link the two businesses.

Victoria Conry (Against) – each round house is 100 square metres and would be detrimental to the dark skies initiative.  The access to the site would be on a blind bend.  The site is an open field and concerns have been raised regarding utilities.  There is a high pressure gas main running through the site. Planning office acknowledges there is no evidence for this in the support of the application linking  the Kinmel Arms.   Planning Permission is not required to open the Kinmel Arms.  The village could not support the Kinmel Arms in the past so why would that be different now especially during a cost of living crisis.  1.2 hectares of land would no longer be farmed and the public house was not originally considered as part of the application.

General Debate –

A Site Inspection Panel meeting had taken place on Friday 14 July 2023 to allow Members the opportunity to view the application site in relation to the surrounding area and neighbouring properties. 

Planning Officers confirmed the application was under Policy PSE 5 not PSE 12.  E application related to which were moveable from the land and the structures were considered to be development.

A meeting had taken place at the site on 30 June 2023 for local residents and this had been very well attended.  Councillor Merfyn Parry had chaired the meeting.  At the meeting a number of people were supportive of the opening of the Kinmel Arms but did not want the businesses to run in tandem of each other.

The Senior Highway Engineer confirmed it was an established point of access.  The round houses were to have their own designated parking area.  The access would be sufficient width for 2 vehicles to pass safely.  The traffic generated for the 5  x 1bed round houses would be very low.  It was not considered a highway risk to refuse this application.

Under Condition 14 there was a rooflight in the design of the roundhouse which could have an impact on the dark skies.  There could be control proposals put in place. 

The site would be open all year round.  Condition 10 dealt with the number on site.  Site rules would be submitted to the Planning Department.  If noise became an issue on a regular basis, colleagues from Public Protection would become involved for a noise abatement notice.

Condition 3 offered security that the roundhouses could not be lived in as a second home.

The economic benefits outweighed the negative impact for the loss of agricultural land.

It was confirmed by officers that if either business were to fail then both businesses would close.

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts PROPOSED the application be granted, in accordance with officer recommendation, SECONDED by Councillor Chris Evans.

VOTE –

For – 20

Against – 0

Abstain – 0

RESOLVED that the planning application be GRANTED in accordance with officer recommendation.