Shropshire Star

Plans for holiday pods near Welshpool given green light

Plans for tourist accommodation near Welshpool have been given the green light by Powys planners.

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Maesmawr Pods - aerial map from Grid Reference Finder UK showing that the proposal is near Welshpool

Wright and Jones Holdings had applied for planning permission to install three holiday pods.

The plans also include creating a sewage treatment plant and car parking at a field near Figyn Cottage, Maesmawr, which is just off the B4392 road that runs from Cyfronydd to Guilsfield.

The pods will measure 5.9 metres in length, 5.5 metres in width, with a height of 2.8 metres.

Powys County Council planning officer, Rhys Evans, said: “It is considered that the proposed development complies with relevant planning policy and the recommendation is one of conditional consent.”

One of the conditions is that it will be for holiday accommodation only, and will not be used as a someone’s “sole or main residence".

To prove this, the company will need to keep an up to date register showing the visitors home addresses, and the dates they stayed there.

This register will need to be available for inspection.

In a planning statement which supported the proposal, agents Roger Parry and Partners, said: “It is an ideal site for tourism use, as its sustainable with good connectivity to Mid Wales, North Wales and Shropshire.

“The proposal will provide a holiday let site which will in turn support the local tourism of the area, and indirectly support local businesses and sites where visitors will visit.

“It is situated in an area where there are ample tourist destinations, public footpaths and other services, which in turn will ensure the site will be a success.”

They said that the land is an “inconspicuous location” with very few properties nearby.

“It is surrounded by woodland, with no views into the site,” they said.

Agents also pointed out that the proposal “fundamentally complies” with the overarching national planning policies that relate to tourism developments.