Second home ownership ‘can be discouraged’ by higher council tax – Anglesey homes plan

Dale Spridgeon, Local Democracy Reporter

Second home ownership at a proposed Anglesey housing development “can be discouraged by imposing a higher council tax,” a planning document says.

The comment comes in a pre-application consultation report amid the planning application for a 75 home residential development at Ty Hen.

Anglesey County Council is set to consider the full-application for the erection of 50 dwellings and 12 apartments at the Stad Maes Derwydd estate.

The proposals include construction of a new vehicular access and road, construction of a foul water pumping station together along with soft and hard landscaping.

The application was submitted by Quatrefoil Homes Ltd, for a Mr & Mrs Roberts, through agent David Fitzsimon, Fitzsimon Planning & Development Ltd.

The 2.38 hectare green parcel of vacant land earmarked for development is near Ysgol Gyfun.

Second homes

The pre-application report addresses issues raised in three third party representations.

In a query over second home ownership the report states this is “a matter for the council to control”.

It adds: “Measures such as higher council tax for second homes can be used to discourage second home ownership”.

Questions over the need for additional housing regarding the “capacity of local schools to absorb” additional demand by families in occupation,  social infrastructure impact, such as GP surgeries and dentists and the effect on the Welsh language were also raised.

Regarding the “need for additional housing,” the report said, the application was “specifically designated” as a housing site by the adopted Anglesey and Gwynedd Joint Local Development Plan (LPD) to meet “identified housing needs” in the area.

“As a housing site within the LDP”… the council will have ensured that either the existing social infrastructure has the capacity to absorb the development or could be improved to do so,” it said.

On the potential “impact on the Welsh language” it answered as a “designated housing site” the proposal includes a range of dwelling types available for sale on the open market.

Affordable units

The scheme also includes a range of homes designated as “affordable units” only available to local people “in housing need” and who meet “strict qualifying criteria,” it stated.

On the “loss of green field” the report cited being “designated housing” within the LDA – which again it said, established the “principle of residential development”.

It also pointed to a preliminary ecological survey claiming the plans would not have an “unacceptable impact on local wildlife”.

“Biodiversity enhancement” was also part of the scheme.

However, the report conceded that “a degree of noise and disturbance” was “somewhat inevitable” during the construction, but effects would be “temporary”.

Llangefni Town Council had expressed concerns over the impact of 75 dwellings on the highway network.

It suggests a planned entrance at Ffordd Rhostrehwfa, on the B442, should be widened so residents would be more likely to use this entrance, whilst driving, rather than Maes Derwydd’s, which was “…already difficult”.

The full planning application decision is yet to be determined.