A SCHEME to site glamping pods, a shepherd’s hut and more caravan pitches in a rural Anglesey beauty spot have been thwarted by planners. A proposal to expand an existing camping business was turned down amid concerns over the countryside, visibility and highway issues.
Anglesey County Council had considered a full application for the change of use of agricultural land near the hamlet of Llanrhyddlad, near Holyhead. The proposals asked for nine seasonal touring caravan pitches and the siting of four glamping pods.
The scheme also included two retrospective bids – one for a shepherds’ hut and another for toilet and shower facilities on the site. The application was submitted by a Mr and Mrs Haworth through agents Paul Roberts, Sylfaen Associates Ltd.
A planning support statement had described the development as a “diversification” of an existing enterprise. The applicants had noted the popularity of the existing land use and an “increasing demand” for touring caravan pitches.
They site already operated pitches for tents, which were being used up to a maximum of 28 days in 12 consecutive months. The site includes a small enclosure for farm animals and tent pitches were “limited to a small area of land field opposite the application site.”
The applicants claimed the plans would only have “a slight or negligible visual impact” due to the topography and boundary planting in surrounding fields. Proposed use of the new facilities was described as ‘seasonal’, with the more visual impact of touring and glamping elements “kept to the less visible edges of the site in the far east and south,” the plans claimed.
The application had described the proposal as “a well-designed scheme” that utilised a “high-quality layout and incorporated landscape” which “integrated well with its surroundings.” They had also considered the scheme could “offer economic benefits “to the local area and economy,” and described it as a “a high quality tourist provision.”
But in a notice of the planning decision, dated May 26, the applicants were told that the scheme had been rejected. Dewi Francis Jones, chief planning officer said in a letter the plans were not considered to be a “high quality development” and went against a number of planning policies. Planners also considered it to be “harmful to the character and appearance of the area and setting” of the nearby Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
The scheme could also have an “adverse impact on the designated Llyn Llygeirian”, a nearby beauty spot and Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).” The applicants, he stated, had also “not provided sufficient information for the disposal of foul drainage.”
“By virtue of noise and general disturbance,” it could also have an “unacceptable impact on the amenity of immediate residential properties.” He wrote. Also considered “in conflict” with “Welsh Government commitments,” in terms of its location, the proposal, was said by planners to be an “isolated and unsustainable development in the open countryside.”
Concerns included visibility from the A5025, and access was said to be “substandard to deal with the developments’ traffic movements” and “unsuitable to ensure safe operation of the highway.” Due the “high-speed nature and configuration of the A5025 ” the authority also considered the access would be unable to withstand traffic increase,” the rejection letter stated.
