Councillors back outline plans for 35 Four Crosses homes

Powys County Council’s planning committee met on Thursday, April 8, to discuss outline plans submitted by developers P and S Davies for land at Gornal Farm.

Objections had been raised and Cllr Arwel Jones (Independent – Llandysilio)  called in the application to be decided by the committee.

As the land for the proposal is outside the Local Development Plan (LDP) area for the village, the scheme is an “exception site”, meaning only certain types of development such as affordable homes can be built there.

Cllr Jon Williams, (Llandrindod Wells East and West – Action for Powys), said: “I do have concerns, this is outside the boundary, if we do pass this we could be setting a precedent.

“This is not one or two, this is an extension by 35 houses, the line is drawn for a reason, and if this is passed the boundary would be meaningless.”

Ms Law, said: “This is for 100 per cent affordable housing,

“There is no limit to the size of exception sites, you would not be getting open market housing only affordable, this is supported by ours and national policy.”

Ms Law, explained that the local authority’s waiting list for housing showed the need for this type of housing in the “Welshpool triangle”.

Ms Law said: “Mid Wales Housing who are looking to take this site forward, don’t have any concerns about being able to utilise it.

“There is enough evidence out there to say it’s needed.”

Cllr Gwilym Williams, (Disserth and Trecoed – Action for Powys) brought up concerns on whether the sewage network in the area could take the extra houses and avoid pollution issues.

Ms Law said that a condition could be added to the planning permission for a detailed foul and surface water drainage plan to be submitted before any building work starts.

She said it could form part of a more detailed planning application which will need to be approved before building work starts.

The plans were approved with 11 votes for, three against and one abstention.