Councillor surprise over application call-in
A councillor expressed “surprise” that a planning application for apartments was called in for a decision by a planning committee.
All other associated applications for the former Travis Perkins site in Newtown had been dealt with by Powys County Council officers under delegated powers.
At the authority's planning committee meeting on Thursday, councillors approved the application by Harry Bowen of Mid Wales Property Limited for eight one-bedroom apartments at the site on New Road.
At the meeting senior planning officer Kate Bowen explained that the scheme is to replace a block of six terraced buildings.
The terraced buildings along with 32 apartments were given planning permission by officers under delegated powers back in February 2022.
Work to build the first apartment block has already started.
Ms Bowen said: “You’re having eight one-bedroom units whereas previously it was a terrace block of four, two-bedroom units and the ends were two three-bedroomed.”
“The application is considered acceptable as a substitution to the previously approved terrace.”
Councillor Gareth Pugh asked why this application had been brought in front of the committee when the previous application had been agreed by council officers under delegated powers.
He said: “I understood that a councillor needed a good reason to call in a planning application.
“It’s been delegated all the way until now.
“What is the good reason the councillor has to call this in front of us, as I’m a bit surprised?”
The local county councillor, Joy Jones had called in the application due to concerns about the number of parking spaces and that it could cause issues to nearby residents.
Ms Bowen said: “It’s a new application, the councillor cited parking and highways concerns and can trigger a call-in.”
The parking requirement of 40 spaces was agreed in the original application.
Highways authority officer Simon Crew explained that the 40 spaces remained the same despite the alterations to the site proposals.
Councillor Elwyn Vaughan said: “In reality this is a fairly minor internal change more than anything, I can’t see what the problem is.
“I move we approve the recommendation.”
Councillor Heulwen Hulme said: “This development addresses much-needed housing need in Newtown, it’s town centre accommodation, which is very desirable, I’m happy to support this.”
Councillors voted unanimously to approve the proposal.
Travis Perkins closed the branch at the site in 2020 as part of company-wide restructure to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mid Wales Property has named the site Millers Place.
