Materials recovery facility at Land Adjoining Clunderwen Depot, Nevern Road, Cardigan

What was proposed

The application sought one additional year to start the previously approved materials recovery facility, with no other changes proposed.

“This application seeks to vary condition 1 of planning permission 20/0191/PA which relates to the commencement of development within 5 years of the date of the permission. Since obtaining planning permission the applicant has been unable to commence work on the site and this application seeks to vary condition 1 in order to allow for an additional year for the commencement of development.”

“The applicant has proposed no other changes to the original permission 07/1044/PA (as varied under previous section 73 applications) and all the other aspects of this application will be the same as those granted under that reference.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The 1.97-hectare site occupies part of an agricultural field near existing farm buildings, with homes nearby and the National Park within about 600 metres.

“The site is located in an area dominated by agriculture, is 1.97 hectares in size and takes up approximately a third of a large, mostly level agricultural field located immediately south of the B4582 between Cardigan and Nevern, about 3 miles south of Cardigan and 650 metres east of the A487. The site is bounded by agricultural fields to the north, south and west and the Clunderwen farmers building is located north-east of the proposed site.”

“The nearest residential buildings are a bungalow, approximately 150 metres north-east of the site and located on the Clunderwen Farmers depot site and a property, Filltir Aur, a detached house about 235 metres from the site boundary to the east. Additionally, the Old School House is 480 metres to the west and the small community of Glanrhyd is a little further west past the Old School House.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Earlier permissions for the facility were granted in 2009, 2015 and 2022, while the latest commencement period had expired.

“20/0191/PA Variation of condition 1 (commencement date) of planning permission 14/0660/PA (Removal of condition 1 from consent 07/1044/PA (commencement required) – Granted 24 th March 2022”

“14/0660/PA Removal of condition 1 from consent 07/1044/PA (commencement required) – Granted 30 th June 2015”

Officer report

Objections received

Three letters from one individual objected to repeated extensions, publicity, wildlife, traffic, access, noise, residential amenity and the site’s greenfield character.

“Three third party letters of representation received from the same individual raising the following concerns: - The permission has been extended twice before and a further permission would represent unfair manipulation of the planning process creating uncertainty for local residents - The publicity notice was fixed to a field gate on land opposite the site raising questions about legitimacy and transparency - Circumstances have changed with an increase in local wildlife and…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The planning officer presented the application, and the Local Member addressed the committee; there were no public speakers.

Committee discussion

Members discussed the application’s history, the Section 73 process, the expired permission, the requested extension and changed planning requirements.

“In response to a concern raised by Councillor Alec Cormack regarding the Section 73 variation of the application, the Planning Officer acknowledged that the previous planning application had expired in March 2025 and that the Section 73 application had to be submitted before March 2025 which permitted an extension of 12 months.”

“The Chief Planning Officer clarified that the application had originally been applied for in 2007 with permission being granted in 2009. The first two renewal permissions had been granted for five years each. Due to the level of consideration between applying for Section 73 and when the permission was issued, they were now approximately 19 years after the first permission was issued.”

Minutes

The vote

Thirteen councillors voted for approval, with 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