Beech wins approval in Conwy after planning appeal

Beech Developments has secured planning consent to build 83 homes on a greenfield site in Conwy, a year-and-a-half after similar proposals were first rejected by the local council.

Beech’s initial proposals for the site, which covers 11 acres outside Conwy off Parc Sychnant, were refused by Conwy Council’s planning committee in 2016, against officers’ recommendations. The developer successfully appealed the decision the same year.

The appeal was granted after a planning inspector found the council could not demonstrate a five-year housing supply.

The developer secured outline approval for 93 dwellings, but the reserved matters application, approved last week by council planners, is for 83 homes.

The number of homes at the site was reduced to increase the amount of open space and trees across the development. The proposals now include a mix of two bed apartments alongside two, three, four, and five-bed terraced, semi-detached and detached houses. There are also some bungalows at the eastern end of the site.

A previous decision on the scheme was deferred in March, to address matters relating to highways, landscaping, and open space.

Conwy Town Council maintained their objections to the project, having originally objected to the initial application in 2016, arguing the scheme would lead to a loss of greenfield land, over-development, and additional pressure on local services, alongside highways issues.

Other objectors included the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales, along with representations against the scheme from 25 local residents.

Beech secured planning approval at last week’s meeting, and will make a Section 106 contribution of nearly £83,000. This includes £27,000 towards playing pitches, £18,200 towards library provision, and a Welsh language provision of £13,500.

There may also be an additional highways contribution, which has not yet been agreed between the developer and the council.