Gwynedd Council Planning Officers Recommend Approval for Unapproved Holiday Let Despite Objections

A Gwynedd holiday let developed without permission has been recommended for approval despite objections.
Council planning officers have recommended the application, for a holiday unit at Plas Coch, Penisarwaun, near Caernarfon, be approved.
A number of objections have been lodged against the plan, with complaints ranging from fears about hot tub water pollution, to worries over noise and traffic.
The application, which will be considered by Gwynedd Council’s planning committee on Monday, is retrospective as the outbuilding was converted into a holiday accommodation without approval.
Two previous applications to “create temporary lodge structures to be let as holiday accommodation” had previously been refused.
One was refused on July 19, 2023, while another was refused on November 11 last year.
Documents stated the current application was submitted “following an enforcement investigation”.
The holiday let conversion stands approximately 5m to the east of the main Plas Coch house and plans state “the size or shape of the structure have not changed as a result of the conversion”.
It consists of a kitchen, a sleeping area, seating area and bathroom on the ground floor, with a bedroom on the first floor or mezzanine, “as it appears in plans”.
Externally, decking has been installed on the front to provide an outdoor area for a hot tub.
Hedging would be planted around the deck and a parking space for two cars to the east of the property on a gravel area was provided.
Located in countryside, the site is approximately 500m north of Penisarwaun village, and served by a private road.
The property is within the Dinorwig Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest.
A planning notice to inform residents prompted a “large number of letters”.
Objections included fears about the plan’s negative impact on the residential area, changes “not in keeping” with the area, narrow access and increasing traffic.
There were also concerns about the plan being “intrusive” for neighbours, with concerns over the effect on bats, and the felling of trees and hedges without permission.
Others said it did “not blend’ with the landscape, with a potential for litter and noise.
Concern about pollution from hot tub water was also raised.
They also cited a “negative visual impact” and impact on the character of the area, overuse of the location, loss of tranquillity and privacy and the plan being in a countryside with no access to public transport.
The area’s community council claimed the scheme would have a “harmful effect on a small, quiet area of rural Wales”.
Biodiversity officers had no objections providing “biodiversity enhancements” were met and the transportation unit said it “assumed it will not have a detrimental impact on any road, or proposed road”.
The council’s planning department concluded in its report it “did not believe the proposal was contrary to requirements of relevant policies”.
It was considered to “meet the requirements” and is “acceptable for approval”. It recommends approving with conditions; that the property must be used be for holiday accommodation only, changes or upgrades to the foul water drainage system must be agreed within a specified time of permission, and the developers must agree to biodiversity enhancements and use bilingual signage.
The matter will come before Cyngor Gwynedd’s planning committee on Monday, January 15. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​