Planners to consider proposals for demolition of luxury home on ‘millionaire’s row’

Dale Spridgeon, local democracy reporter

A plan to demolish a “dated” but luxurious home on the Menai Strait “millionaire’s row” is to come before council planners – again.

Anglesey county council has received a new application knock down Ynys Y Big – a 1930s house which boasts its own island and harbour.

The plans for the demolition of the existing dwelling, together with the erection of a new dwelling, with garage and associated works, will come before Anglesey’s planning committee on Wednesday, September 4.

Modernisation

According to some property websites the property is worth just under £2m – with one noting it as the “second most expensive home” in the area.

Although a structural inspection within the plans states the property is “likely to need extensive modernisation to bring it up to standards now expected.”

The application has been made by Geraint and Paula Jewson, through agents Cadnant Planning.

According to their proposal, the plans “seeks to demolish the existing dwelling which is exceptionally poor in terms of energy efficiency and erect a replacement dwelling in its place”.

The new home would see a second storey built. An existing garage could be retained.

The supporting statement said: “The replacement dwelling would be positioned broadly in the same location as the existing dwelling, but is moved slightly further south-east to avoid conflict during construction with protected trees and their root protection areas.”

The submission was recommended for approval by the council’s planning office – with conditions. The matter was to be brought back to the committee for discussion, by local members Councillors Carwyn Jones and Alun Roberts, following issues raised locally.

The large detached property, on a 1.62 hectare site, is located adjacent to the A545 in Glyn Garth, on the seaward side of Beaumaris Road, between Menai Bridge and Beaumaris, and is currently a single-storey property.

Area of Outstanding Beauty 

The home is in an idyllic location with its own island linked by a wooden walkway and is set within an Area of Outstanding Beauty, with large grounds that slope down to the water’s edge.

The existing house plans described the house as lying approximately 30m back from the road edge behind a 2.1m high stone wall and mature, mixed woodland, which screen views from the Beaumaris Road.

Two previous applications to knock down the property were refused by the planning committee in September, 2019 and September, 2021.

At the time of its writing, the council report said there had been two representations on behalf of four individuals received, with the latest date for the receipt of public representation over the application, being May 12, 2023.

Following the previously failed application and objections, the applicants said the replacement dwelling’s siting, scale, size and design has since been “significantly altered”.

Landscape and biodiversity enhancements had been incorporated following consultation with the council’s landscape and biodiversity teams, and a private foul drainage treatment plant had been omitted in favour of a connection to the public foul sewer network.

“The replacement dwelling would comprise a two storey, principal stone faced elevation facing the Menai Strait and render and stone elevations on all other elevations,” the plans said.

“The roof will be traditionally proportioned and finished in natural slates.”

Objections

Objectors had noted that amendments made to the proposal did “not address or overcome the fundamental objections which led to the refusal of two previous applications.”

Their concerns raised included the application site being “located outside any development boundary in an AONB where the primary objective is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the landscape”.

It was also felt that the proposal was “contrary” to planning policy, regarding replacement dwellings and SPG guidance “by virtue of its size, form and siting and the submitted structural report and viability assessment does not support the proposal.”

Issues identified in the structural report, objectors had highlighted, were: “likely due the fact that the property has been neglected and unoccupied since 2017 and had not been maintained rather than any major issues with the
condition of the building.”

There was also “concern” regarding the impact of the proposed replacement dwelling by virtue of its siting, orientation, height, scale and massing upon the privacy and amenities of the neighbouring property.”

The matter will be decided on Wednesday.