Powys County Council’s planning committee will consider a proposal for 153 homes in Ystradgynlais on December 18, despite concerns about infrastructure and dozens of objections from residents.
How the homes could look in Ystradgynlais(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Despite numerous objections and worries about the town’s capacity to handle a large population surge, Powys planners are set to recommend a substantial housing development in Ystradgynlais.
Powys County Council’s (PCC) planning committee will deliberate on a proposal for 153 homes at a site in the town during their meeting on Thursday, December 18.
In August new plans surfaced for an application that Persimmon Homes West Wales had initially submitted to PCC in January 2023. The proposal was to develop land west of the former Penrhos School on Brecon Road. For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter
This led to a fresh consultation on the revised proposal, which now includes more housing units. The updated plan proposes 153 units for the site, up from the original 134.
The proposed dwellings will comprise a mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom units, with 18 of them being one-bedroom flats.
This follows an earlier application by Persimmon Homes for 42 homes – referred to as phase one – which received planning approval in August 2022.
Cllr Huw Williams (Labour – Abercraf and Ystradgynlais) has “called in” the proposal before the planning committee due to concerns about the “proposed scale of the development and its effect on nearby residents”. In February 2023 Cllr Williams also requested for the original smaller development to be called in.
The assessment by senior planning officer Catherine James reveals that 42 objections have been submitted regarding the application.
Those opposing the proposals cited various concerns including “the increased danger of flooding, traffic, pollution loss of privacy more open space needed, noise nuisance, over development, strain on existing community facilities, inadequate sewerage system, potentially contaminated land and lack of affordable housing”.
Ystradgynlais town council examined the revised application during an October meeting and whilst stopping short of opposing the development outright, councillors highlighted several concerns about the proposal.
The council expressed “concerns over public services in the community being overstretched” and worried that current infrastructure would be “unable to cope” with the growing population. The town council sought a section 106 contribution from developers to support local infrastructure and services.
Ms James stated: “Whilst the objections are acknowledged, the site is a housing allocation in the adopted Powys local development plan (LDP) which was considered at public examination. The proposed development will make a significant contribution to the LDP housing target.”
She clarified that regarding “planning balance”, the objections could be addressed through implementing “mitigation measures”.
Ms James concluded: “The recommendation is therefore approval subject to the drafting and signing of a section 106 agreement.”
This could result in contributions being made towards the improvement of facilities at Penrhos playing field. Persimmon Homes would also need to adhere to 30 conditions that will be imposed on the planning permission, subject to approval by councillors.