Four-pitch travellers’ site at New Stables Land Opposite Llancayo House, Llancayo

“The creation of a Travellers’ site incorporating four bespoke family related pitches with one static and touring caravan and day/utility room per pitch, emergency flood access, installation of private treatment plant and ecological enhancements (partially retrospective)”

“This application site relates to an area of 0.44 ha adjacent to the settlement of Llancayo near Usk. The site is triangular in shape and located to the west of the B4598 and to the east of an unclassified road. To the north is agricultural land. The whole site is surrounded by peripheral trees and mature hedging with a public footpath, Nos 360/60/1, extending in an east-west direction along the northern boundary with a gated access point onto the unnamed minor road.”

“Since March 2016 a family who are from the Gypsy and Traveller community have occupied the site as their home. A retrospective planning application (DC/2016/00297) was submitted to Monmouthshire County Council on 17th March 2016. The application sought planning permission for a four-pitch Gypsy site for one family - comprising four pitches with space for a mobile home, touring caravan, utility/amenity building and parking space.”

“The development at the site is unauthorised and the enforcement notice has not been complied with. The Council is now in a position where it can (if appropriate) take further action but needs to give careful consideration as to how to proceed with the site whilst ensuring that the welfare of the family occupying the site is accommodated.”

“Significant weight should be given to the lack of alternative sites within the County. To address the unmet need the Council states that applications for Gypsy and Traveller sites will be considered having regard to the outstanding need in accordance with the most recent government guidance. Policy H8 is a criteria-based policy against which such applications will be assessed through the development management process.”

“The Planning Inspector’s two key concerns set out in the appeal decision from 2017 have now been addressed by the applicant via a detailed flood assessment with the area proposed for the living accommodation demonstrated as flood free (as would the emergency access be), and with a main access that floods within tolerable limits, allowed for in TAN15.”

“We considered the report of the application and late correspondence which was recommended for approval subject to the conditions outlined in the report.”

“In noting the detail of the application and the views expressed, it was proposed by County Councillor Ann Webb and seconded by County Councillor Jan Butler that application DM/2024/00355 be approved subject to the conditions outlined in the report.”

“For approval - 14 Against approval - 0 Abstentions - 0”

“We resolved that application DM/2024/00355 be approved subject to the conditions outlined in the report.”