15-07-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Planned Powys holiday pods finally set for decision
PLANS for tourist accommodation near Rhayader are set for a decision more than four years after the application was first lodged.
Tony Davies and his wife Angela submitted the proposal in March 2021 for four holiday pods in a field at Cae Henfron off the A470.
The pods will all have one bedroom, and the part-retrospective proposal includes an access road and associated works.
The plans are coming before the council's planning, taxi licensing and rights of way committee on Thursday, July 17, because Mrs Davies is now a senior Powys councillor.
The Liberal Democrat was elected to represent Rhayader at the 2022 local election, and is herself a member of the planning committee.
The application was discussed by Nantmel Community Council in April 2021 when no objections were raised, but new interim phosphate standards for Special Areas for Conservation (SACs) in Wales since in 2021 have stalled progress.
Any planned development in the SAC catchments that might increase phosphate levels within the catchment must be screened.
The River Wye flows nearby meaning the application has been caught up by the interim standards.
Senior planning officer Rhian Griffiths said. 'This guidance has now changed, and the application has been considered against the most up-to-date guidance.
'The application is made part-retrospectively, as the access track and ground levelling works have been undertaken.
'The Powys Local Development Plan (LDP) recognises the high-quality beauty and variety of the Powys landscape, which creates an area of great attractiveness and potential for high value tourism.
'The LDP further notes that tourism is one of the county's main employment sectors.
'It is an important component of the rural economy and can help to provide new jobs and it is therefore desirable to support appropriate tourism related developments in principle, whilst sustaining the outstanding natural beauty."
Another issue with the application is that it will mean a loss of agricultural land, and national policy in Wales is geared towards preserving the best land. The patch at Rhayader is considered "moderate".
Ms Griffiths said: 'Given the classification of the application site, the location of the proposed development is considered appropriate as development will not be undertaken on the most versatile land.
'On balance it is considered that the proposal complies with relevant planning policies, and the recommendation is therefore one of consent subject to conditions.'
