Opposition to building Anglesey homes on ‘one of the last remaining green fields within Llanfairpwll’

Gareth Wyn Williams, local democracy reporter

Concerns have been raised over plans to build 27 affordable homes on a greenfield site just off the A55.

An application has been submitted for a patch of land in Llanfairpwll which borders the expressway, with developers adamant it would meet growing demands for housing.

But according to residents of the Garnedd estate, which would be used as the access road for proposed the new estate, the site is unsuitable.

With locals having organised a petition of 600 signatures, Llanfairpwll Community Council is also calling for the plans to be refused by Anglesey Council.

Alan Shore, secretary of the Residents Against Garnedd Extension (RAGE) campaign group, said, “Of all the people contacted over 97% are against development on this site, one of the last remaining green fields within Llanfairpwll, which has not even been included in Ynys Môn Council’s latest Development Structure Plan.”

Raising concerns over the access arrangements via Y Garnedd, he described the road as “an already overused, congested thoroughfare” with 18 existing estates pouring traffic onto a half-mile stretch of road.

“Over 150 additional houses have been built along this road over recent years without any consideration for infrastructure.

“Flooding from rainfall and surface water is now a common occurrence in several areas of the village, it’s very concerning.”

‘No other sites’

But the applicants, Holyhead-based DU Construction, feel there is a desperate need within the village, pointing out there are over 100 people waiting for affordable two and three bed housing in the area.

The plans encompass a mix of houses ranging from one to four bedrooms.

Their supporting documents note: “Figures received from the Joint Planning Policy Unit in December 2020 confirmed that during the plan period, only two affordable units have been delivered in Llanfairpwll and there are no current planning permissions under which affordable housing could be delivered in the immediate future.

“There are no other windfall sites within the development boundary where affordable housing units would be expected to come forward to fully meet the need for affordable units.”

But Mr Shore said that standing feet away from the expressway, the traffic noise was “horrendous.”

“None or very little consideration has been given to the people expected to live in these proposed houses,” he added.

“A traffic survey undertaken on behalf of the developer was carried out during lockdown in late Autumn 2020 and noise levels were borderline even then.

“The site is wet with standing water during every rainy period and traffic fumes pervade the area, adding to air pollution.

“There are better sites in the village catchment area than this.”

‘Unacceptable’

Llanfairpwll Community Council, in its response, backed the principle of more affordable or social housing in the village, but “strongly opposed” the current plans after citing the increased traffic along Y Garnedd, noise from the A55 and insufficient waste disposal provision as well as flooding concerns.

But with current planning policy allowing wholly affordable housing schemes to be built on sites bordering development boundaries, the applicants added, “The site’s proximity to the North Wales Expressway A55 corridor requires consideration of potential effects on the residential amenity of the occupiers of the proposed dwellings from a noise and air quality perspective.

“The application is accompanied by a Noise Impact Assessment and an Air Quality Assessment both of which conclude that there would be no unacceptable effects to the residential amenity of the occupiers of the proposed dwellings from noise and air pollution.”

It’s expected that Anglesey Council’s Planning Committee will discuss the application in the new year.