Gwynedd Council rejects camping pods bid despite support

Powys County Times

23-05-2025

A plan to site five glamping pods as part of a Welsh farming family's diversification plan has been turned down despite strong support from some members.
Cyngor Gwynedd's planning committee rejected an application to change the use of land and develop a small scale holiday development on an area known as Pandy fields in Corris.
The proposal for the permanent pods and associated parking was rejected, in line with the council's planning officer's recommendations.
The application had been made by Maisie Sandells, through the agent Dafydd Tomos, of George and Tomos Penserei (Architects).
The application had been deferred from the council's Monday, April 28 planning committee meeting for a site visit.
The proposal had been part of a diversification project for a 120-hectare livestock business by H.B Sandells and Sons Farm.
Council planners said the application was 'not acceptable' as it created a new, permanent alternative camping accommodation within a Special Landscape Area.
They said it was also 'likely to have a substantial detrimental impact on the amenities of local property owners in terms of more activities, disturbance and noise'.
Public objections had included the impact on the SLA (special landscape area), light and noise pollution, 'attracting the wrong people' to Corris, an excess of tourism and impacts on biodiversity and local property.
A resident who lives at a former medieval fulling mill, beside the Dulas river, where she said otters and owls were often seen, told the meeting the area was a place of 'peace and tranquillity'.
They had purchased their home in 2016, on a site of special landscape (SLA) 'in the knowledge that it was protected from developments such as this'.
She was also concerned it would mean more strangers walking around the home boundary, day and night.
Local member Cllr John Pughe Roberts argued people already walked on a public footpath there anyway, and the development would not be seen due to woodland and planting between the house and pods.
He also questioned the nature of the SLA, adding that local farmers were 'worried about the lack of development opportunities for the future'.
He called for councillors to support the applicants, who were a third-generation, Welsh speaking farming family.
Cllr Louise Hughes backed the scheme, saying: 'Farmers are up against it."
She noted it was 'a small and discreet' development of only five pods.
Her proposal was seconded by Gruff Williams, who said it was now 'necessary for farmers to redirect their efforts and to diversify', while Cllr Gareth Jones called it 'a perfect example of sustainable tourism'.
Cllr Berwyn Parry Jones said he could not support the scheme, due to it being in a SLA, an area of outstanding beauty.
Planning manager Gareth Jones told the committee they had rejected similar applications, and if the decision was to be approved, it would have to be referred to a 'deliberation period' and brought back again to the committee.
A vote to allow the application failed with five votes in favour, no abstentions, and eight against.
A second vote, to refuse the application passed with seven votes in favour, no abstentions and six against.
This meant the application was rejected.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr John Pughe Roberts said he was 'very disappointed' on behalf of the applicants.
They had been hoped that the enterprise could help sustain future generations of the local farming family, he said.
'I am extremely disappointed, and it was Plaid Cymru people that voted this down,' he said.
'More and more young people are leaving Gwynedd in their droves, more than anywhere else due to the need to be able to make a living. Soon there will be no young Welsh speakers left,' he said.
'These are a third generation Welsh speaking farming family, they should have been given a chance to do this."