Housing development should have ‘Welsh name’, developers told

Gareth Williams, local democracy reporter

A housing development should have a Welsh name, developers have been told.

Plans have been submitted to clear the site of a former corn mill for a development of over 50 new homes in the Anglesey village of Valley.

County planners have received plans to demolish a series of buildings near Valley market to build 46 houses and 8 apartments, which developers say will provide a new use for the ‘untidy’ and long vacated site.

During the pre-application consultation, members of Valley Community Council offered feedback on the plans which included seeking reassurance over water drainage, the need for a local lettings policy, that the development be given a Welsh name, as well as a call for a specialist fund for community benefits.

The supporting documents accompanying Williams Homes (Bala) Ltd’s application, states that at least 20% will be designated as affordable, with the exact figure to be determined following talks with planning authorities.

“The scheme is being developed and is designed as an affordable housing development to meet identified local need,” note the applicants.

“The intention of the ultimate owner – Clwyd Alyn – is that the scheme will be provided as entirely affordable housing with a mix of different tenures provided (e.g. social rent, intermediate affordable rent, shared ownership, & intermediate affordable housing for sale) to meet need as it comes forward, and to allow for changing household circumstances once the scheme is built (e.g. that an occupier can move from rented to shared ownership as their circumstances change etc.).”

‘Brownfield land’ 

Now made up of of cleared brownfield land that was previously occupied by Valley Mill and parts of the old cattle market, it adjoins the Valley Market site in the centre of the village.

Described as “presently untidy” and “sorely in need of a new use to remove an unattractive site from the settlement,” the homes will vary in size from one to four bedrooms each.

They concluded: “The scheme would provide a mixed housing development that will meet identified local needs for affordable housing, and thus will make a valuable contribution toward meeting identified levels of housing need in the locality.

“It would also make the best use of the site in terms of its density, balancing the requirement to achieve higher densities in accessible locations against the constraints of the site, open space requirements, and the need to respect the locality.”

Its expected that Anglesey Council planning officers will consider the application over the coming months.