PROPOSALS to move over 100 Welsh Government staff across the road from their current Spa Road office to be based at County Hall in Llandrindod  Wells is gathering pace.

At the planning committee meeting on Thursday, February 6, councillors will decide an application to build a single storey front extension and create a new reception hall at Powys County Council’s (PCC) Headquarters.

As the site is owned by PCC, the application needs to be decided by the committee.

The application by agents Avison Young on behalf of The Welsh Government was only submitted on December 18, 2019.

Planning officer Bryn Pryce explained: “This site relates to an extension to the existing PCC County Hall building to create a new reception area and separate entrance for a potential tenant to occupy some of the existing space in the building.

“The proposed extension is to measure 5.3 metres in width, 7.5 metres in length and 3.7 metres in height.

“The proposed extension is to have a flat roof with windows to the south west and north east elevations with the new entrance to be accessed from the north-east.”

Mr Pryce explained that County Hall is located in the designated Llandrindod Wells Public Historic Parks and Garden.

Due to this, The Welsh Government’s historic service, CADW has been consulted but to date no comments had been received from it.

Mr Pryce added: “The proposed development would be visible from the wider area west and north of the site in the backdrop of the existing County Hall building and would no be visible from the south or east due to screening from the existing building.

“Given that the proposal forms an extension to the existing building which is relatively modest in scale, officers consider that the proposed development will not have a significant adverse impact upon the registered historic path and garden and the amenity value of it.

“We consider the proposed design and materials will complement the character and appearance of the existing building.”

Mr Pryce goes on to say that the recommendation is approval, subject to five conditions.

This includes a detailed Biodiversity Enhancement Plan to do with the “green roof” describing the species and size as well as how many plants will be put there and how they will be looked after in future.

It is expected that 130 Welsh Government Agriculture Department and Natural Resources Wales staff will move into County Hall by Christmas 2020.

PCC’s members lounge will be altered as part of the move.