Plans for 60 bed holiday hostel gets thumbs down amid concerns for impact on local community

Dale Spridgeon, local democracy reporter

A scheme to convert a former care home into a holiday hostel for 60 people was rejected by planners over its potential impact on a village community.

Cyngor Gwynedd’s planning committee rejected an application for the change of use of the former Penisarwaun Nursing Home.

Councillors on Monday (July 29) agreed with objectors, and rejected the substantial holiday accommodation scheme.

Applicant Rhys Griffith, through agent Sarinah Farooq of Cadnant Planning, had requested permission to convert the single-storey building into 25 bedrooms with en-suite facilities.

Plans included a games room, kitchen, dining room, ancillary warden living accommodation and 42 parking spaces. The project had attracted objections from locals and the community council.

An original application had also been rejected by planners due to “lack of information” back in February 2023.

Resubmission

In a resubmission officers felt that vehicle and access arrangements were now considered “acceptable” by the transportation unit, and highway safety was not considered to be “harmed” by the development.

It was also felt the hostel would not “increase the density of use of the site” and in the “context of local and national policies” re-using an existing site was considered “economically beneficial” for the community

They had suggested imposing “appropriate conditions” to manage “amenity impacts” if it was approved.

“On the whole,” the amended proposal had “overcome concerns” highlighted in the original application,” and officers had recommended approval with conditions.

However, councillors went against the officers’ advice by refusing the scheme.

Overdevelopment

In a debate, councillors’ objections included an “overdevelopment,” concern for the “nature, density and scale” of the proposal, its potential “detrimental effect on residential amenities” and the impact of an increase in vehicles, in and out of the site and parking.

Penisarwaun community representative Gareth Griffiths, felt it was “shocking” that the application had been recommended for approval.

“Nothing has changed with this application since last time, beyond the fact that the number of people using the hostel has been confirmed,” he said.

The development would be “the biggest holiday hostel in the area” and would increase the population of the village he said.

It was “not suitable in nature nor scale” and would mean an increase in traffic, and there were not enough parking spaces. It would cause noise and there was a concentration of similar hostels in the area
“It will cause a significant and negetaive effect on the quality of our life in this small community. I would like to see this turned into affordable homes for local people,” he said.

“It goes against the wellbeing of this Welsh community, we ask for it to be refused.”

Agent Sioned Edwards, told the meeting the building had been bought by a “young man from the village,” who wanted to start a business and the officers were now “satisfied” with the plans.

It would see a full-time warden employed and three or four part time roles, and the building was “unlikely” to meet it resident capacity all year round, she added.

In a letter, the local member Cllr Elwyn Jones stated that a lot of Penisarwaun residents had contacted him over traffic and parking concerns.

He said “we have to consider this as an over development in the countryside, I believe the disadvantages are stronger than the advantages.”

Cllr Edgar Owen said he “could not see a planing reason to refuse” but would have “preferred affordable homes,” a view shared by Cllr Ann Lloyd Jones.

Cllr Cai Larsen queried parking and traffic issues, and Cllr Gareth Coj Parry felt the road would be “used heavily all day long,” posing a danger locally.

Cllr Gareth Jones urged the committee to “listen to the voices of local people.”

Cllr Louise Hughes was concerned over the impact of the “clientele that hostels attract.

“They attract youngsters having a good time…coming and going,” she said.

“Given the fact that the Community Council has given an extensive list of reasons, and the local member is against it, surely it is our duty to listen?”

John Pughe Roberts also noted there was a chapel in his area had been converted into a hostel.

“It sleeps 10 people and there have been problems, people go there to drink and so on,” he said.

Following a proposal by Cllr Gruff Williams., a vote followed. Nine votes went against the application, with two in favour. It was therefore rejected.