Highways team fights retrospective plans for a farm warehouse

Over the summer the planning department investigated the development, which is a 3,000 square foot warehouse, built in a rural location at Penrhos Farm between Arddleen and Llanymynech.

That application was refused as was a previous one earlier in 2018.

But two new ones have been submitted with the developments separated between two applications.

As well as the application dealing with the demolition of agricultural buildings and building the warehouse, James Owen also has a separate application to change the type of use of other farm buildings and the new gates and associated works.

Simon Crew, of the Highways, Transport and Recycling Department, said: “Connection from the site to the A483, is via county classified roads which have localised narrowing at points which prohibit the free flow of two way car traffic.

“Much of the length of the C2035 is also too narrow to allow the free flow of two-way HGV traffic and there are no formal passing bays to accommodate such vehicles.”

The report goes on to say that the junction turning towards Penrhos has “substandard visibility” with the turning towards the A483 being unsuitable for “increased movement” of large vehicles.

Mr Crew also adds that the access width to get in to Penrhos is “insufficient” to allow HGVs to pass.

Objected

Llandrinio and Arddleen Community Council has already objected to the application on the grounds that the type of development should be on an industrial estate.

Lucy Roberts, Powys County Councillor for Llandrinio which includes Penrhos, has also indicated that she is "calling the application in”.

This means it should be considered by planning committee rather than planning officers with delegated powers.

It states: “Mr Owen is the founder and managing director of an online retailer employing some 14 members in the local community with a further four vacancies advertised.

“Mr Owen purchased an agricultural property in Penrhos with a large footprint of redundant buildings, having extensively renovated and replaced these to make them suitable for the business requirements.

“Mr Owen, (is) now in the process of seeking retrospective planning permission and is hopeful the locals and council will recognise the potential and benefits they can offer to the local community.”

James Owen has also said that building at Penrhos was his only “viable” option as he had exhausted his search for suitable buildings or development land.

By Elgan Hearn, local democracy reporter