Agenda item

W/40091

Rural enterprise dwelling at land at Llwynonnill Fawr, Llanddarog Road, Llanddarog, SA21 8AL

A representation was received from the local Member in support of the application on the basis the applicants had been involved in farming for some 40 years and now wished to move to the proposed dwelling to allow for family progression for one of their sons to move into the existing farmhouse to help with the farm operations, the farm holding of 90ha (owned) and 20 ha (rented) accommodated 1300 sheep with the intention to diversify into beef cattle, the farm also operated a straw and hay business, as all of the existing farm buildings were in use and unavailable for conversion to a dwelling it was contended the application complied with Policy H5 of the Carmarthen Local Development Plan and that the Rural Policy was intended to promote farming requirements

The Committee referred to the report of the Head of Planning detailing the reasons for recommending refusal of application W/40091 on the basis the proposal was contrary to Policies GP1 and GP2 of the Local Development Plan. Whilst having regard to those refusal reasons, the Committee considered the application should be granted contrary to the Head of Planning’s recommendation on the basis it was felt that:-

1.     There was Rural Enterprise Justification for the dwelling based on existing stocking levels, the overall size of the farm acreage and the scale of the farm operations.

2.     With regard to the siting of the development, there was no other appropriate building on the farm yard, Policy H5 of the LDP had a presumption against the conversion of rural buildings in working use into a residential property, it was inappropriate to build an extension/annexe to the existing farmhouse due to overlooking and any development to the left hand side of the farm complex would preclude future farm development in that area.

3.     The application complied with the provisions of the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 in relation to the generational continuation of farming

The Committee also felt if the application were to be granted, the proposed new dwelling should be regarded as a Rural Enterprise Dwelling and tied to the farm complex to prevent its future sale as a separate entity from the farm holding. A condition was also to be applied for the provision of a visibility splay at the site entrance for highway safety

Officers responded to the issues raised during consideration of the report.