A PLAN to extend a home in a North Wales seaside village was approved, despite concerns over its potential for use as a holiday let. The Isle of Anglesey County Council planning committee approved an application for alterations and an extension to a “modest” mid-terraced house with sea views at Rhosneigr.
It came after a tied decision and a casting vote in favour of permitting the proposal. The Warren Road scheme had sparked local objections over parking and impact on neighbouring properties, and a debate over an “over-saturation” of holiday accommodation in the area.
The plans had initially requested a two-storey extension – but an amended scheme now described knocking down a utility room, adjacent coal room and the erection of a one-storey extension. It also included a rear dormer loft conversion, the installation of a roof window, solar/PV panels, new window openings and air-source heat pump.
The council’s senior planning officer Rhys Jones described the development as “a small-scale rear extension to provide “additional living space.” The matter was brought back to the planning committee by local member Cllr Neville Evans on Wednesday, November 6.
“Warren Road is literally like a rabbit warren, there are little roads going everywhere. It’s appropriately named. I’m sure the highway officer knows how many complaints we receive about cars parking there,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of a neighbour, who had passed a report to him from a consultant, it was felt his property could be “impaired” by the development. There was “a small, narrow garden alongside” and the new building would create “loss of sunlight.”
Cllr Evans said it was a “realistic prospect that this property will become a holiday let or Airbnb,” he said. “The community council has already reached saturation point with the 15 per cent threshold [for the number of holiday homes] already breached.”
“It is put forward that this is an opportunity for the local planning authority to show commitment to the policy of limiting holiday accommodation projects in areas that are heavily pressurised in this regard such as Rhosneigr.
“In the event of an amended design, it should be conditioned to ensure that it does not become a short term holiday let class C6 or C5 or dwelling house that is not used as a main residence, ie not a holiday home.”
But the planning officer insisted it was “a residential property” and the application had been made for “householder development.” Anticipating future use was “beyond the remit” of the planning department.
“We have to consider each application as it is presented on its own merits,” he added. “We don’t have a crystal ball, we can’t presume what will happen with this application or any other, that is a very important principle for a planning committee,” he said.
The extension was “a small one” not considered to have a “significant effect” on neighbours. It was not considered to adversely impact the character of the dwelling, the surrounding area, amenity of adjacent residential or impact on highway safety, he said.
The overall design complied with policies and the recommendation was to approve.
Accepting there were “permitted development rights,” Cllr Evans said: “I think it adds to the problems of second homes – already at saturation point in Rhosneigr.”
Cllr Robin Williams said “I respect what Cllr Neville Evans said, but, we of course, haven’t done anything in regard to Article 4, so I feel our hands are tied and proposed granting acceptance.
Cllr Douglas Fowlie agreed with Cllr Evans, but added that local people knew the area was “a nightmare for parking.”
Cllr Evans proposed objecting, on grounds of parking and effects on the nearby property: “We can’t do much else until we look at implementing Article 4.”
Councillors voted five in favour to accept the plans, whilst five voted to reject. Chairman Cllr Glyn Haynes’ casting vote ensured the development was passed.
An Article 4 Direction is a planning tool that limits the ability to change the use of a property without obtaining planning permission. It was adopted by Cyngor Gwynedd to control the impact of second homes on the other side of the Menai Strait.
