Agricultural machinery business at Plasgwyn Bungalow, Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain

What was proposed

The application sought to change two sheds and a yard from agricultural use to storing, maintaining and repairing agricultural machinery, with access and parking works.

“Proposal: Change of use of 2 sheds and yard from agricultural to agricultural machinery business (storage, maintenance and repairs), parking areas, stopping up of one access and alterations and improvements to main access…”

Officer report

The site and access

The site is about 1.8 kilometres north-west of Llansantffraid beside Winllan Road, with access from the C2003 highway.

“The site is located approximately 1.8km to the north-west of Llansantffraid on the eastern side of the C2003 highway (known as Winllan Road). Access is gained off the C2003 highway and the application seeks consent for change of use of two existing buildings and yard from agricultural to use as an agricultural machinery business (storage, maintenance and repairs), parking areas, stopping up of one access and alterations and improvements to the main access.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Earlier permissions included agricultural buildings, an agricultural workers dwelling, a livestock building extension and a rural enterprise dwelling application.

“Erection of extension to existing agricultural livestock building and all associated works Approve…”

“Outline application for erection of a rural enterprise dwelling, garage, formation of vehicular access and all associated works Application Returned…”

Officer report

Consultees and residents

Highways raised road and passing concerns before supporting conditions, while other consultees had no objection or no comment; public responses included support and objections.

“12th Feb 2025 Llansantffraid and Deytheur Community Council are unable to support this application, at this time, as it believes that the Winllan Road adjacent to the property is not adequate to support the increase in large agricultural and other vehicles that this change in business use would entail. The Winllan Road is very narrow upon entry to Llansantffraid, has a narrow bridge and some bad bends along its route, and few passing places.”

“Following the display of a site notice on 19 July 2024, 27 public responses have been received, 18 in support and nine in objection. The responses are summarised below:”

Officer report

Main concerns raised

Objections concerned traffic, narrow roads, noise, screening, views, environmental effects, business activity and the suitability of the proposed use class.

“The proposal is not a diversification of a farming enterprise • Lack of justification to relocate business to the site from existing site • Business is already operating from the site - rental of equipment is not listed on the application but is already taking place and parked at the address.”

“Impact upon views from property • Vehicles would need to travel over a listed bridge • Affect local ecology • Potentially contaminated land • Over development • Strain on existing community facilities • Increase danger of flooding • The site is visually prominent in the Tanat Valley and machinery stored outside would have a negative impact, noise would impact the quiet setting of the landscape • No site notice displayed at the site • The use class has been defined as B1 in…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The local representative, a community council representative, the agent and the applicant spoke to the committee.

What members discussed

Members discussed ownership of the nearby poultry unit, the application description, sales and hire, highways, passing provision and landscaping around the buildings.

“The Senior Planning Officer advised that if the Committee was minded to approve the application the condition regarding landscaping could be amended to require screening around the buildings. In response to questions the Highways Authority advised that the application was a challenging one from a highways perspective, due to the class of road and a number of pinch points.”

“It was moved and duly seconded to approve the application as recommended in the update report with an amended condition requiring the landscaping around the buildings. The Senior Planning Officer advised that the conditions regarding landscaping would read as follows: • Prior to first operational use of the site a scheme of landscaping shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority to include planting on the north and northeast sides of the…”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee granted consent subject to the update report conditions and additional landscaping requirements for planting on the north and north-east sides of the buildings.

“RESOLVED: Reason for decision: that the application be granted consent, subject to the conditions set out in the update report which is filed with the signed minutes and the following amended and additional conditions regarding landscaping: • Prior to first operational use of the site a scheme of landscaping shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority to include planting on the north and northeast sides of the buildings.”

Minutes