Fresh plans for 30 chalet holiday village and new lake on Anglesey despite previous refusal

Gareth Williams, local democracy reporter

Fresh plans have been unveiled for a 30 chalet holiday development on Anglesey despite being previously turned down.

Refused by the local authority in 2019 – with the decision upheld following a subsequent appeal –  the proposals also involved a reception building and creating a new lake on land just off the A55 at Penmynydd Farm, Caergeiliog.

But new plans have now been submitted to Anglesey Council as part of an initial “screening opinion” bid, allowing planning officers to establish whether an environmental assessment is needed prior to the developers submitting a full application.

Council planners, turning down the previous bid, found that the proposal entailed a “major development located in an unsustainable location in the countryside” not considered to be a “high quality development” and “would be harmful to the character and appearance of the area.”

As well as 30 chalets and a reception building including a laundry area, the plans submitted by Neil Oldham also involved a fishing lake, parking facilities with electric charging point and a play and picnic area.

Expanding further, Mr Oldham said the updated  plans also include electric bike hire, an on-site cafe and shop as well as an on-site minibus, which were not included in the previous application.

But despite failing in a subsequent appeal to the planning inspectorate, the applicants state it would create an “attractive”  and “economically beneficial” development on the island, and look set to submit fresh proposals.

The latest planning documents note: “It can be clearly seen that the proposal concerns a site set in the countryside, but is located close to the strategic transport network and in close proximity to (and within easy reach of) local villages.

“It is also clear that the site is well contained and screened by its existing boundary treatment and the land form of the area.”

‘Unobtrusive’

Noting that it would create between four and five full-time jobs, it was stated that the development would also boost the local economy through other roles such as cleaning, site and building maintenance, and other such contracted work.

But when considering the previous application in early 2020, planning inspector Siân Worden agreed with aspects of the applicants’ argument but decided to uphold Anglesey Council’s decision to refuse.

Her report said: “All in all, the proposed development would be of a high quality in terms of design, layout and appearance.

“It would be sited in an unobtrusive location, well screened by existing landscape features and where, in time, the units would be further assimilated so that the landscape’s visual quality would not be significantly harmed.”

But noting the site’s distance from local services, based 1.6km from RAF Valley and 2.3km from Caergeiliog, she added: “It is not practicable for most people to walk to and from hot food takeaways at such distances and there does not appear to be a convenience store where daily supplies could be purchased.

“The proposed development would be appropriate in this location under the terms of the relevant policy, Policy TWR 3. It would not have a harmful impact on the character or appearance of the surrounding countryside.

“The proposal would not, however, be in a sustainable location and, being contrary to PPW objectives, that is sufficient reason in itself to refuse the scheme.”

It’s expected that a full application will be submitted after the planning department responds to the screening opinion.