AN OUTLINE planning application to build 43 homes, which includes 10 per cent affordable homes, in Caersws has been deferred.

The application has been made by G and A Jarman for land at Penyborfa, Carno Road, Caersws, includes sheltered housing and a bus lay-by as part of the development.

It came before the Powys County Council planning committee on Thursday, February 28.

Committee chairman Cllr Karl Lewis (Conservative, Llandinam) told the committee that the recommendation had changed from consent to deferral as PCC had not heard back from one of the statutory consultees.

Planning officer Tamsin Law said: “We had hoped we would have received a response from Welsh Government Trunk Roads on the application.

“We have been chasing their response up for some time.

“As the access is not a reserved matter and  is considered as part of the application and there have been amendments, we don’t consider that we can determine the application without their comments.”

“The application should be deferred to a future meeting so that we can receive those comments.”

Cllr Hywel Lewis (Independent, Llangunllo) asked if a site visit would take place in the meantime as there had been a request for one.

Chairman, Cllr Karl Lewis, answered: “If we took every housing estate visiting call, we would be out on the road all the time.

“I will consult before this comes forward again but at this moment in time we will not be doing a site visit.”

The plans have been opposed by many in the village, including the community council.

There were several at the meeting who were there to speak on the application and Cllr Lewis apologised for their wasted journey.

On December 19, 2018, Caersws Community Council held an extraordinary meeting, to discuss the application.

Sophie Palmer, Caersws Community Council clerk, said in a letter to PCC: “It was previously suggested that a public inquiry should be called to answer some of the anomalies brought about by this application.

“Caersws Community Council strongly objects to this planning application as they believe it is the wrong type of development in a flood risk area and the amended details do not rectify the inherent problems with the problems with a development of this size on this site.”

In the original report planning officers had advised giving the application conditional consent.

The next meeting of the planning committee is scheduled for March 21.