PLANS to build three homes on a greenfield site beside a pub have been approved.
Members of Cyngor Gwynedd’s planning committee approved proposals for two houses and an accessible bungalow on land in Llanrug during a meeting on Monday.
Development of the site beside the Glyntwrog Inn had been mooted as far back as the 1970s but had gathered objections over the years.
A recent application for four two-storey houses on the land was rejected, but amended plans reducing the number of homes from four to three, lowering property heights, and making the bungalow accessible have now been approved.
The plans, submitted by Morris Build for Life Ltd, described housing association Adra as the potential “beneficiary” of the development.
“By Adra providing 100% of the properties as affordable social rent, it met the requirements of the Gwynedd Strategic Teams to provide more affordable housing for local people,” plans stated.
Speaking at the meeting, Dilwyn Parry Jones, owner of neighbouring Bryn Seiriol, said he had “concerns”.
There had been objections and the officer’s reports did not reflect “the situation in reality,” he said.
“We have a septic tank on the site which was installed in 1982, my family were the original land owners,” he said.
“Any groundwork would have impact and cost.”
He also believed the development would be an “overdevelopment” and “not in keeping” with the area.
“It will fill this open area with a development that is incongruous, and extend housing beyond the boundary,” he said.
“It would impact the feeling of space and affect the character of the village.”
He also raised privacy and access concerns, concerns over the need to move the bus stop, and over electricity supply and noted the busy highway was raised in an attached document to the plans.
The meeting heard from the planning officer that the highways department had “no issues” since the reduction of the speed limit to 20mph on the A408.
Stephen Morris, from Morris Build for Life, told the meeting: “It is on an ‘exception site’, these houses will be 100 percent affordable housing in line with policy, in proportion and in line to the existing settlement, and there is a need for this type of housing.”
He had met with neighbours and “acknowledged” a need to makes changes.
He said: “We offered to connect the property on a septic tank to the main sewer but this was rejected.
He said the current design has been made around the septic tank and insisted “the bus stop will not need to be moved”.
He added: “We have three children who have grown up, gone to the local schools.
“We have been approached by people wanting a house locally.
“This site is on a main bus route, it gives an excellent opportunity to provide homes for three local families.”
Councillor Beca Brown said she “understood” the feeling in Llanrug.
She said “the village is quite full” and had seen “a lot of development”.
She added: “I also shared fears over safety but the dropping of the speed limit alleviates that.
“I have sympathy for the neighbours over the location of the septic tank, and re the offer it would be good to see that made formally to the resident.
“I am aware of the need for truly affordable social housing.”
She said many young people can’t afford to rent or buy, and social housing waits were “lengthy” in Llanrug.
She was sure the accessible bungalow would encourage a number of applications due to “a need for these type of homes”.
The plan was unanimously approved by members of the committee.
