Eisteddfod plans to build houses on its overspill car park

* The site of the proposed development off Abbey Road. Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has applied for planning permission to build seven houses on the overspill car park close to its main site off Abbey Road. The proposed development of three-bedroom homes would be served by two private shared driveways.

The site is a small triangular paddock off the A542 and is currently listed as brownfield for development purposes.

A design statement issued by the applicant’s agents, Fisher German of Chester, admits the proposed scheme is outside the development boundary and is therefore contrary to Denbighshire’s current Local Development Plan (LDP).

But the statement adds: “Notwithstanding, the (county) council currently has a significant shortfall from the plan-led housing requirement figure.

“The site adjoins a settlement boundary, in a highly accessible and sustainable location, and the provision of housing should be afforded significant weight so as to outweigh any policy conflict, subject to technical matters.

* A plan of the proposed housing development.

“The site is an under-utilised brownfield site located within a settlement. It may fall just the wrong side of the settlement boundary, but numerous appeal decisions and court rulings have confirmed that settlement boundary lines do not necessarily reflect the position on the ground.

“In this case, the site is connected to the town by continual development and very obviously forms part of its associated wider developed area.”

* A sketch of the housing types proposed.

A transport statement has been submitted alongside this application. This confirms both existing accesses to the site are suitable for the development and that “good visibility splays are created”.

The statement also confirms that a “minimal increase in traffic” would be created on Abbey Road as a result of the development.

A decision on the plan by county planners is pending.

* Further details of the application can be found on the county council's planning portal at: 

https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/planning-and-building-regulations/search-and-comment-on-applications.aspx

Use reference number: 03/2019/1075