VISITORS will be given the opportunity of stepping back in time after plans for a traditional-looking roundhouse retreat received the thumbs-up.

Natasha Wilcock has been given planning permission to build the roundhouse on land north of Felin Cadwnfa, Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa, between Llanfyllin and Lake Vyrnwy.

She aims to turn a 2.8-acre site, 500 metres from her home into a wellbeing retreat called, Hafan Iechyd – Nant y Pandy. It will be for use by one family at a time.

Mrs Wilcock runs her own nutritional therapy business, and the proposal would see aspects of her work seen and experienced by visitors.

Powys County Council’s senior planning officer, Kate Bowen said in her report that planning policy supports tourism development in the countryside and that the “principle of development” was acceptable.

Ms Bowen said: “Additional and revised information has been received which has addressed the highway authority’s initial concerns such that they have not objected to the development subject to the use of conditions.

“The site is located within a community identified as a Welsh language stronghold, given that the application does not propose 10 or more dwellings, the policy requirements are not applicable.”

Llanfihangel community council had backed the proposal.

But they had highlighted concerns about an increase in traffic as well as wanting “a clause included” to stop further development of the site.

Ms Bowen said that a condition removing permitted development rights for the building would mean that plans for any more would need to go through the planning process.

Ms Bowen recommended conditional consent.

The development is only for holiday accommodation and an up-to-date register with the details of visitors including home address, needs to be kept and be available for inspection by the council.

According to the document, the roundhouse would be made of timber, its insulation would come from straw bales and finishing materials would include clay and lime plaster.

Solar panels would provide the roundhouse’s electricity, water would come from a borehole or collected rainwater and a compost toilet “will provide a natural means of processing sewage and waste hygienically".

The roundhouse will also have a turf roof which should allow it to “blend” into the landscape.

Roundhouses were a standard form of building throughout Britain for around 2,500 years during both the Bronze and Iron Ages – although Ms Wilcock has previously clarified that it is not of a Bronze Age style.