17 affordable homes in Trewern given green light

Up to 17 affordable homes are set to be built at a village near Welshpool after Powys County Council gave a thumbs up to the proposal. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Originally Mid-Wales Property Development had wanted to build 19 affordable homes on land next to The Wallers in Cefn, Buttington. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This forms part of the village of Trewern and is next to the A458, the main road that connects Welshpool to Shrewsbury.
The development will be a mixture of two, three and four bedroom dwellings, mainly of a terraced or semi-detached design. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the application process Trewern Community Council raised highway safety concerns.
These were about an increase of traffic this development could generate onto the main trunk road.
The council were concerned that it would also be close to the village school and access to another nearby proposed housing estate. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Powys County Councillor for Trewern and Trelystan, Cllr Amanda Jenner had also expressed similar concerns and had said that she wanted to “call in” the application to be decided by the council’s Planning committee.
However last month, Cllr Jenner changed her mind. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Jenner said: “Having reviewed the additional documentation on the planning portal from the applicant and the subsequent highways and trunk road responses to the consultation, I would like to withdraw the call in which I previously made for this application.
“I am happy for the decision on this application to me made without proceeding to planning committee.”
Planning officer Richard Evans said: “The site is solely for affordable housing and there are clear and adequate arrangements to ensure that the benefits of affordable housing are secured for occupiers.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added that the principle of development at the site was established in a previous planning application. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Evans said: “The element of the proposed development which is located outside of the development boundary of Trewern is a logical extension to the large village.
“The dwellings located within this area must be solely affordable.”
“Powys highways officers has also been consulted on the proposed development and has been in discussion with the applicant in respect of revised details being submitted in support of the application.
“The Highways Authority have therefore recommended conditions in respect of parking, access and drainage.
“The proposed conditions are considered reasonable and will be attached to any granting of planning permission.”
Due to this Mr Evans said that the development complies with relevant planning policy and that decision is to approve the proposal with conditions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​