Plans to convert a Gwynedd hotel into affordable homes were rejected due to policy breaches and lack of local need evidence.
The council planning group said no. Their vote matched the planner’s advice. They hoped to build ten homes. These would have been affordable housing.
Keira Sweenie is a planning officer. She said developers sent no report. They needed to prove local people needed those homes. The plans broke policy rules. Converting country property mattered.
New homes must meet Welsh standards. These homes were too small, she said. Policy needs proof the hotel isn’t viable. It still could be hotel rooms. There’s policy protecting holiday spots.
Neil Foxall works for the developers. That company is MSK Properties Anglesey Ltd. He said they lacked contact with planners. He said emails and calls received no reply. He said this hindered the planning’s progression.
Information was missing. Opinions from officers remained unknown. He wanted to delay the matter. He addressed the committee instead. He mentioned Gwynedd’s housing problems. The brownfield site could help, he thought. It wasn’t seen as viable for holidays.
Local councilor Llio Elenid Owen disagreed. She thinks the scheme is not fitting. She feels it doesn’t match local needs. Locals are not happy. She cited big issues with the plan’s impact.
The homes are small, they stated. The location is bad also. The plan fails Welsh housing rules. No proof of local need exists, she said. The Welsh language could suffer.
The plan breaks planning rules. Developers ignored local views, she thinks. She can’t support the plan. Councillor Edgar Owen also opposed it. He thinks developers threw it together. The plan never had a chance, he added.
Councillor Delyth Lloyd Griffiths agreed. She wants good homes for residents. Local objections are important too.