Threat to second home on ‘paradise’ Welsh isle
AN ENFORCEMENT investigation was launched after someone bought part of an island and turned a building into a plush second home and holiday let.
Ynys Faelog is a small tidal island close to the Menai Suspension Bridge and is reached by car over a tidal causeway from Anglesey.
It is described as a “slice of paradise”, and part of the island was put up for sale by Bangor University in 2019 for £1m.
The listing included a two-storey building with spectacular panoramic views and a private beach and headland, with access to a secluded rear garden area.
The site was sold in 2021.
After the sale, the former office and teaching building was turned into a second home by the new owner, and also used as a holiday let.
But Anglesey council launched an enforcement investigation for a breach of planning control.
They invited the owner, Mr Goodwin, of Ynys Faelog Limited, to make an application for a change of use of the buildings.
That application has now been submitted by Nigel Thorns Planning Consultancy.
In a planning statement, they said: “For information the property is used as a personal holiday home by the applicants and is also commercially let out as a holiday home.
“This tourism element allows the property to benefit the local economy over the full year rather than periodically by the homeowner visiting the property.”
They added: “The key point here, is that the change of use is contained within the confines of the existing building, meaning that the impact of the physical development is neutral and has no impact upon the character or setting of the local area.
“When the university left the island, the building was boarded up and was vandalised. It could be argued that the reinstatement of the residential use and the associated improvements to the building and the site are a significant improvement to the local area.
“The building was constructed and used as a dwelling prior to the intervening university office/teaching use and is wholly suitable for its residential use.”
The statement added: “As part of the holiday let process, local companies/persons are employed to tend the gardens, provide general maintenance and provide turnaround facilities between guests.”
No action is currently being taken and there is no impact on the operation of the holiday let business.
This also does not impact Ynys Faelog Cottage, on the southern extremity of the island, which is also owned by the applicant.
The agent was contacted to see if they or the applicant wanted to comment further.
Anglesey council’s planning development manager, Rhys Ll Owen, said: “A retrospective application (FPL/2024/57) has been submitted to the Local Planning Authority following an enforcement investigation.
“The application is a retrospective application for the change of the former office and teaching building into mixed use as a dwelling and holiday let accommodation with a curtilage at Ynys Faelog, Menai Bridge.
“The enforcement investigation resulted in an Enforcement Warning Notice and the Local Planning Authority invited the applicant to submit a planning application to remedy the breach of planning control. However, the enforcement investigation was for the unauthorised use of the building as a holiday let and did not include a permanent residential dwelling.
“As the application includes use (or part thereof) of the building as a permanent residential dwelling, outside of any defined settlement, it is a departure from the Local Development Plan.”
Planners will now consider the application.