Third time lucky for developer as tweaks to historic plans for Crossgates housing estate get the thumbs up

Tweaks proposed to historic planning permission to build houses in a village near Llandrindod Wells have finally been given the thumbs up by Powys planners, at the third time of asking.

In August, Martin Rowan of MR Developers Limited lodged a non-material amendment (NMA) planning application with Powys County Council.

This is so that the company can change the planning permission, which is nearly 20 years old, for 16 detached houses on land next to Oak Tree View in Crossgates.

Two previous applications for the site have been refused by Powys planners this year, with the last rejection coming in July.

Mr Rowan wanted to make amendments to approved plans comprising “changes to layout and positioning of plots 11 to 16 inclusive and consequential changes to plots 14 and 15 comprising the handing of the garage for plot 15 and frontage parking spaces both for it and plot 14 to comply with standards”.

The change this time around was that the demolition of a property known as “The Glen” on the site is not specifically mentioned in documents for the new proposal.

The demolition of “one prefabricated bungalow” is still mentioned in the overarching proposal.

Planning agent Alan Southerby said: “Overall, the scheme remains essentially unchanged, save for minor amendments to the layout to provide a better setting and positioning of plots 11 to 16 inclusive.

“These changes will provide for improved spacing for the dwellings in this part of the site.

“The amendments would result in no material differences between the approved and proposed schemes.”

He argued that the scheme meets the legal planning tests because there is “little to separate” this proposal from the one approved in 2008 and it would have essentially the same impact as if the original scheme were built.

Mr Southerby believes that people living nearby would not be “disadvantaged” by the proposal and that no “harm” has been identified during the process.

He also said that “no harm has been identified” in relation to whether the changes would conflict with local or national planning policies.

Senior planning officer Kate Bowen said: “The original development was permitted circa 18 and a half years ago and was considered against different planning policy at that time.

“Whilst planning policy has since altered, weight is given to the approved, extant permission which this application relates to.

“The changes themselves do not conflict with any current planning policy and guidance.”

She went on to approve the plans.