WHAT type of home that needs to be built on land near Four Crosses, will be considered when detailed plans are written up.

A condition in the Outline Planning permission gives Powys County Council (PCC)  “total control” of what type of house will be built at land near Oldfield Farm close to Four Crosses in North Powys.

Developer, Nick Savage, had applied for outline planning permission for 24 affordable  homes.

These would be a mixture of two and three bedroom homes.

Local councillor Arwel Jones (Independent – Llandysilio) had called the application in front of the committee.

This followed Llandysilio Community Council’s objection to the plan at a meeting in October 2018.

Cllr Phil Pritchard, (Independent – Welshpool Castle), did not want to see the application “fudged” and believed the applicant should have prepared a scheme for one bedroom flats.

Cllr Pritchard said one bedroom flats is the current housing need in all the villages down the Severn Valley to Welshpool.

Cllr Pritchard said: “We’re being asked to judge the application that’s in front of us today, not in six months time.

“On that basis I want to ensure that the need is satisfied.

“Therefore the applicant should come back with an application that is (for) one bedroom.

“The local member sits in the middle of this and probably gets people knocking on his door wanting one bedroom homes.”

“They have two or three bedrooms on the plans that’s what we’re looking at and I’m totally against it,”

Planning case officer, Holly Hobbs, said the application was “only indicative” at this stage and that all “matters were reserved.”

Cllr Huw Williams (Labour, Ystradgynlais) added: “The need is for one bedroom flats. The bedroom tax has made the need for two bedroom, void. There’s not the demand for them.”

Cllr David Selby (Liberal Democrat, Newtown Central) said: “What we’re being asked to do and it’s supposed to be something we’re encouraging in this county. It’s an outline for affordable social housing, where there is hardly any, and it’s right next to a school.

“I would have thought this is a cause to celebrate. I can see no reason to turn it down, a secondary reason is what should be built there.”

Committee solicitor, Colin Edwards, said: “I understand members’ concerns, but I’m totally confident that the condition proposed puts the local authority in total control  of what will or won’t go on that land eventually,

“Unless things change radically the eventual outcome will be one bedroom affordable housing on that land. The authority is in control not the developer.”

Cllr Hywel Lewis (Independent – Llangunllo) added: “The officers have been quite clear we’re discussing the feasibility of the site for social housing.

“On that basis I move we accept the recommendation, and when detailed plans come in, the need in the area is stuck to.”

The plans were passed by 13 votes to 2.