A SCHEME to develop a “prominent” Gwalchmai property which has prompted traffic and parking concerns will come before planners.
A full application for the change of use of the existing ground floor of a dwelling to form part of an existing shop at Mona House, on Holyhead Road, has been received by Anglesey Country Council.
The proposal describes the change of use of the ground floor of the building to form part of the existing convenience store, together with internal works on the first floor to facilitate the creation of a flat.
The site is described as being “located in the settlement of Gwalchmai in a prominent location adjoining the A5 highway”.
The island’s planning and orders committee will decide over the scheme which has been submitted by Amarjit & Jagvir, Singh & Kaur through agent Robyn Jones.
The application has been brought to the planning committee at the request of local member Cllr Neville Evans, and follows a site visit by planning committee members.
A planning report states that Cllr Evans has “concerns in regards to local issues of parking and traffic being exacerbated by the proposal”.
But the council’s planning officers are to recommend permitting the proposal with a number of conditions.
The plans describe how the site “currently consists of a semi-detached two storey pitched roof property which adjoins the village convenience store and is slightly further set back than the shop”.
“Parking and amenity area is included to the rear,” the plans say.
Externally, no changes are proposed to the frontage of the building, the plans say, “with the exception of the installation of bird boxes”.
“To the rear, the existing lean to extension will be re-roofed with a flat roof to create a first floor balcony to serve the flat and an external stairwell will be installed in order to provide means of access to the flat.
“There will be no changes to the number of residential units on the site.”
Planning policy had confirmed there were “no retail policies applicable” and the highways and transportation department was “satisfied with parking provision and visibility splay of access”.
The ecological advisor was “satisfied” with plans for bird boxes, whilst the environmental health department gave “standard environmental protection in formatives, and Dwr Cymru had requested a condition regarding surface water.
The report also stated that “publicity was afforded to the scheme” via the posting of personal letters to occupiers of neighbouring properties but “no letters of representation [at the time the council report was written] had been received”.
Among conditions, if approved, are that the development must be carried out “in strict conformity” with specific details shown on the plans.
Car parking must also be completed in “full accordance” with approved details to “enable vehicles to draw off, park and turn clear of the highway to minimise danger, obstruction and inconvenience to users of the adjoining highway”.
It also stated “no surface water and/or land drainage shall be allowed to connect directly or indirectly with the public sewerage network”.
This would be “to prevent hydraulic overloading of the public sewerage system, to protect health and safety of existing residents and ensure no pollution of or detriment to the environment”.
The planing report notes the scheme had been “assessed against relevant policies of the Joint Local Development Plan” – where it was found to be “in complete conformity”.
The report concludes: “The scheme proposes to extend an existing retail facility whilst retaining an existing residential unit.
“No negative impacts upon the local highway network were identified and impact against residential amenity can be sufficiently mitigated by the use of a obscure glazed screen.
“Due to the above, the department are obliged to recommend approval.”
A decision over the matter will be sought at the next planning and orders committee meeting on Wednesday, January 8.
