Holiday cottage plan variation at The Croft, Ludchurch, Narberth

What was proposed

The application sought revised plans for one four-bedroom holiday cottage, including layout, design, height, materials, landscaping and biodiversity changes.

“The application seeks permission under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to vary Condition 2 of planning permission 21/0041/PA, for the construction of a single holiday cottage at The Croft Guesthouse, Ludchurch. The proposed variation does not alter the principle, use or overall scale of the approved holiday cottage; rather, it seeks to substitute the original plan set with amended drawings (Nos.”

“The revised drawings show a series of internal layout modifications, including alterations to the configuration of the ground and first floor rooms to make more efficient use of the building’s footprint. The unit remains a four-bedroom holiday cottage, with bedrooms, bathrooms, living accommodation, and utility spaces re-arranged. A reduction in the footprint of the building is proposed and an increase in the ridge height.”

Officer report

The site

The site forms part of an existing holiday accommodation complex, accessed by a private road, with the land already excavated and serviced.

“The site forms part of the existing holiday accommodation complex at The Croft Guesthouse, accessed via a private road off the C3070. The land has already been excavated and serviced pursuant to the implementation of permission 21/0041/PA. Boundaries comprise existing hedgebanks, post-and-wire fencing and some open sections. The wider area is rural in character with a mix of dispersed residential and tourism-related development.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the changes would not create new or intensified impacts, and the existing permission outweighed the policy conflict.

“In considering the Section 73 test, the proposed variations do not introduce any new or intensified impacts compared with the originally approved scheme. There is no material change to the effect on residential amenity, highway safety, landscape character, ecology, drainage or infrastructure. In fact, the updated Green Infrastructure and biodiversity measures represent an enhancement relative to the approved scheme.”

“Consequently, whilst the principle of development remains contrary to Policy GN.17 of the LDP the revisions do not undermine the reasoning for granting the original planning permission as the fall back position of the extant planning permission is considered to a material consideration of significant weight to outweigh this policy conflict.”

Officer report

Public representations

No third-party representations were received following publicity of the application.

“A.2.7 Following the publicity of the application no third-party representations have been received…”

Officer report

Who spoke

There were no public speakers on the application.

Committee discussion

Members discussed the application, and a councillor highlighted the absence of public and Community Council objections before moving approval.

“The Committee proceeded to discuss the application.”

“Councillor Alec Cormack emphasised that there were no objections from members of the public or from the Community Council and Moved the recommendation for approval; Seconded by Councillor Michael Williams.”

Minutes

The vote

The approval motion passed by roll call with ten votes for, no votes against and no abstentions.

“The vote, undertaken by way of a roll-call was carried. The votes were recorded as follows:”

“There were no votes against and no abstentions.”

Minutes

The decision

The committee approved the application subject to the conditions set out in the officer recommendation.

“That the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions outlined in Section 1.1 of the report.”

Minutes