Estate gets green light on appeal
A DECISION to refuse planning permission for a new housing estate in the Carmarthenshire village of Llangain has been overturned.
The Welsh Government Planning Inspectorate has flipped Carmarthenshire Council planning committee’s refusal decision which was made in October 2019.
It follows an appeal by the applicant Gareth Williams after the council’s turned down the plans for 36 homes.
At the time, a majority of the council’s planning committee was unhappy with the planned access road to the proposed development via the existing Dol y Dderwen estate in the village south of Carmarthen.
There was also concern over the impact more homes and increased traffic would have on the road network through Johnstown – some three miles away which serves as the main artery to Llangain from Carmarthen along the B4312.
Councillors wanted to see more efforts to create a new access to the east of the land, onto Church Road.
Campaigners on the Llangain Planning Action Group (LPAG) also argued having the access into the new estate through the existing Dol y Dderwen was impractical and unfair on those living there and suggested the new estate should be accessed via Church
Road on the approach to the village.
The planning committee was told the applicant, Gareth Williams, had carried out a further access assessment, but could not take forward the Church Road suggestion because the road would require significant improvement and require the use of some land outside of his control.
The application was rejected by the county council on access safety concerns and the impact on people already living at Dol y Dderwen.
The applicant Mr Williams and his planning agent Asbri Planning then launched an appeal to that rejection, taking it to the Welsh Government Planning Inspectorate, which ultimately agreed in favour of the plans going ahead.
Chair of LPAG, Annie Delahunty said the overturning of the decision was disappointing, adding: “Access to the development is still expected to be via Smyrna crossroads and through Dol y Dderwen as it was first presented, and that is despite the decision of Carmarthenshire Council to reject it.
“LPAG along with the great majority of our residents remain mystified and filled with consternation at the result and why this appeal was indeed allowed.
“We, our county councillor Carys Jones and council spent a great deal of time and effort working to ensure a good future for both current and future residents of Llangain.
“It is LPAG’S view that the judgement does not appear to indicate that anything submitted during Asbri’s pre-planning consultation by residents or by Carmarthenshire Council planning committee has – along with further additional submissions and photographic evidence from residents – appeared to have actually been given due consideration by the Welsh Government Planning Inspectorate appeal process.
“This is deeply disappointing and certainly not what we would expect of a nation committed to the Wellbeing of Future Generations.
“Residents remain overwhelmingly concerned about the quality of life for current and future villagers of Llangain.”
In overturning Carmarthenshire Council’s refusal of the plans, the Planning Inspectorate report concluded by stating: “It is inevitable that any development will generate construction traffic and associated disturbance, especially in the case of larger housing sites such as this.
“These effects would be temporary and can be controlled through suitable conditions to minimise impacts, such as the requirement for a construction management plan.
“This would not therefore be a reason for withholding planning permission.”
The report argued that using Church Road as the access road to the site was not feasible.
Although it incorrectly referred to Church Road as Church Lane, adding: “An alternative access was considered from Church Lane which is a rural country lane that is narrow in places with poor visibility at the junction with the B4312.
“The works required to upgrade this lane would be significant and would involve land outside of the appellant’s control.”
In recent days the 3.59 acre plot of land earmarked for development has appeared online for sale with the planning permission attached for the 36 homes – which are to be a mixture of two, three and four bedroom houses and bungalows.
It is being marketed to prospective developers by estate agent John Francis, for offers in the region of more than £1m.
A statement on behalf of the owners of the site in Llangain said: “We are pleased to have secured planning consent on the site.
“We are now marketing the site and look forward to seeing new houses being developed within the village.’