Plans for 35 affordable homes at Four Crosses approved

Powys County Council’s Planning committee met recently, to discuss outline plans submitted by developers P and S Davies for land at Gornal Farm.

Objections had been raised which saw Cllr Arwel Jones “call in” the application for it to be decided by the committee.

As the land for the proposal is outside the Local Development Plan area for the village, the scheme is an “exception site.”

This means that only certain types of development such as affordable homes can be built there.

Councillor Jon Willians said: “I do have concerns, this is outside the boundary, if we do pass this we could be setting a precedent.

“This is not one or two, this is an extension by 35 houses, the line is drawn for a reason, and if this is passed the boundary would be meaningless.”

Ms Law, said: “This is for 100 per cent affordable housing,

“There is no limit to the size of exception sites, you would not be getting open market housing only affordable, this is supported by ours and national policy.”

Ms Law, explained that the local authority’s waiting list for housing showed the need for this type of housing in the “Welshpool triangle.”

Ms Law said: “Mid Wales Housing who are looking to take this site forward, don’t have any concerns about being able to utilise it.”

“There is enough evidence out there to say it’s needed.”

Councillor Gwilym Williams brought up concerns on whether the sewage network in the area could take the extra houses and avoid pollution issues?

Ms Law said that a condition could be added to the planning permission for a detailed foul and surface water drainage plan to be submitted before any building work starts.

She said it could form part of a more detailed planning application which will need to be approved before building work starts.

Councillor Huw Williams said: “I’m surprised that we have concerns expressed by owners of a commercial and industrial site.”

The objectors feared that future commercial ventures could be restricted due to the houses being built next to them.

Ms Law said that those enterprises are “long established” and there would not necessarily be any restrictions on them.

Ms Law said: “We can only assess the development proposed, the noise from the commercial unit will not impact the housing going there.

“We can’t refuse a development over something that might happen in the future.”

Councillor Hywel Lewis had heard enough and said that he was prepared to test the meeting by proposing to accept the plans.

Cllr Linda Corfield seconded the motion and said that the plans looked like a “missing part of a jigsaw” of development in the village.

The plans were approved with 11 votes for, three against and one abstention.