Agenda item

To consider an application for resumption of residential use of dwelling for local needs occupation and erection of extension at Pen y Graig (South West of Plas Tirion), Glyndyfrdwy, Corwen (copy attached).

An application was submitted for resumption of residential use of dwelling for local needs occupation and erection of extension at Pen y Graig (South West of Plas Tirion), Glyndyfrdwy, Corwen.

Public Speakers –

Mr. B. Dewey (For) – explained the family’s links with the area, their eligibility for affordable housing, lack of affordable housing in the area and details of the building’s proposed restoration.  He referred to attempts to market the premises in line with policy highlighting its unsuitability for commercial use.

General Debate – The Planning Officer (PM) summarised the report and relevant policy issues leading to the recommendation to refuse the application.  Officers had considered residential use of the property to have been abandoned and contrary to the tests of Policy PSE 4 of the Local Development Plan there had been no evidence the property had been marketed for commercial use and no financial information had been provided to assess whether the dwelling would be affordable for local need.  Members had heard from the Public Speaker that some attempt had been made to market the property and given its location it was accepted it would probably be difficult to reuse the building for commercial purposes.  However the main basis for refusal had been the issue of affordable local housing need.  If members were minded to grant the application consideration should be given to how the property could be controlled in the future for local affordable housing need as opposed to being sold on the open market to someone outside the area.  Officers confirmed there were no particular concerns around the extension and design elements.

Councillor Huw Jones (Local Member) spoke in favour of the application and provided assurances that the Applicant was happy to accept a condition to secure future affordability of the property for local need.  He referred to the family’s circumstances and links to the area, highlighting the lack of current affordable housing and the merits of restoring the dilapidated building for residential use.

During debate members were sympathetic to the application highlighting the importance of affordable housing to meet local needs.  The benefits of restoring the property in terms of aesthetics and visual impact and for worthwhile use rather than leaving it to fall further into disrepair were also highlighted.  Reference was made to previous applications when considering similar planning issues and the need to apply a consistent, common sense approach.  Much discussion focused on the affordable housing element and officers clarified particular issues as follows –

·         the application was for local needs occupation and planning permission could not be granted with the removal of that element

·         referred to the eligibility and assessment process for local affordable housing together with the local connections policy and guidance

·         confirmed that in the absence of a condition to secure the future of the property to meet local affordable housing need the property could be sold on the open market to a buyer from outside the area

·         if the application was granted with an affordable housing clause it would not stop the applicant applying to have that condition removed in future if it was demonstrated there was no longer a need for local affordable housing.

Councillor Meirick Davies referred to the late representations received from the AONB Joint Committee and proposed that, if granted, a condition be imposed in line with their recommendations regarding the staircase which he believed would be more in keeping with the surroundings.  There was no seconder for that proposition.

Proposal – Councillor Cefyn Williams proposed, seconded by Councillor Arwel Roberts that the application be granted subject to a condition to secure the future of the property for affordable local housing need.

VOTE:

GRANT – 18

REFUSE – 0

ABSTAIN – 1

RESOLVED that permission be GRANTED, contrary to officer recommendation, subject to a condition to secure the future of the property for affordable local housing need for the reason it will meet local affordable housing need.