10 touring caravan pitches at Caravan Park, Uwchmynydd, Pwllheli

What was proposed

The application sought 10 seasonal touring caravan pitches on agricultural land, with a toilet and shower block, landscaping, access works and a treatment plant.

“Proposal: Full application for the change of use of an agricultural field to accommodate 10 seasonal touring caravan pitches additional to the main site, the erection of a toilet/shower block, soft landscape improvements, creation of proposed entrance/exit and installation of a treatment plant…”

“Description: This is a full application relating to the extension of an existing caravan site to nearby agricultural land. It is proposed to create additional formal plots to an existing site for 10 seasonal touring caravans along with the erection of a toilet/shower block, soft landscape improvements, creation of proposed entrance/exit and installation of treatment plant.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is open countryside within the Llŷn AONB and a historic landscape, partly within a flood zone and wildlife site, with class 3a agricultural land.

“It can also be seen that land to the north of the existing application site was approved under reference C16/0878/30/LL to store up to 15 touring caravans throughout the year. The remainder of the site includes agricultural buildings, outbuildings and two residential dwellings. The whole site is located in open countryside and within the Llŷn AONB.”

Officer report

Earlier applications and permissions

The site has permissions for touring caravans and caravan storage, while an earlier application for the same proposal was withdrawn before committee consideration.

“Technical Advice Note 18: Transportation 3. Relevant Planning History: C24/0413/30/LL - Full application for the change of use of an agricultural field to accommodate 10 seasonal touring caravan pitches additional to the main site, the erection of a toilet/shower block, soft landscape improvements, creation of proposed entrance/exit and installation of treatment plant - Withdrawn - 30-09-2024 This application was withdrawn prior to the Committee with a recommendation to…”

“Application C16/0879/30/LL: Increase the number of touring units from 30 to 39 without compliance with condition 2 on permission reference number 2/10/134A together with an extension to the toilet block - Approved 17/11/16 3.3 Application C16/0878/30/LL: Application to continue using land to store touring caravans without compliance with condition 2 on application number 9900073FUL10 (restrict caravan storage period between 1 April and 30 September in any year) -…”

Officer report

Why officers recommended refusal

Officers considered that the proposal would harm the AONB landscape and failed to provide information on protected sites, agricultural land, highways, drainage and flooding.

“Conclusions: Policy TWR 5 of the LDP requires that any touring caravan development should be readily assimilated into the landscape in a way which does not significantly harm the visual quality of the landscape. This development would be unavoidably harmful to this landscape within the AONB. Therefore, it is considered that the proposal is contrary to criterion 1 of Policy TWR 5 of the LDP.”

“Insufficient evidence has been submitted as part of the planning application to demonstrate that full consideration has been given to the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land. The proposal therefore is considered to be contrary to the requirements of criteria 6 of Policy PS 6 of the Anglesey and Gwynedd Joint Local Development Plan 2011-2026 and advice provided in paragraphs 3.58 and 3.59 of Planning Policy Wales. 4.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant’s representative and the Local Member supported the proposal, citing family farming, screening, local demand, highway improvements and economic benefits.

What members debated

Members discussed missing information, the site’s location outside the development boundary, agricultural land, a possible site visit and whether deferral would help.

“In response to a question about the reasons for refusal, the Assistant Head of Service briefly highlighted the reasons: • the visual impact on the AONB (would the development be detrimental to the quality of the landscape?) • a lack of information from the perspective of environmental issues (would there be an impact or not on the nearby Conservation Area?) • the agricultural aspect of the loss of good agricultural land (although accepting the Local Member's comments) • the…”

Minutes

The decision

The committee delegated powers to the Senior Planning Manager to refuse the application on six landscape, environmental, agricultural, highway, drainage and flood-risk reasons.

“The proposal therefore does not show that it would protect or improve the natural environment and therefore the application is contrary to the requirements of Policies PS 19 and AMG 5 of the Anglesey and Gwynedd Joint Local Development Plan 2011-2026. Insufficient evidence has been submitted as part of the planning application to demonstrate that full consideration has been given to the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.”

“No drainage statement has been submitted as part of the application, and therefore insufficient information has been submitted to be able to confirm that the proposal complies with the requirements of part 7 of TAN 15: Development, flooding and coastal erosion (2025) in terms of providing a sustainable drainage system. ⁠ 6. The site is partially located within a C2 and C3 Flood Zone for surface water and minor watercourses as noted by the 'Flood Map for Planning'.”

Minutes