AN appeal has been lodged with Welsh Government planning inspectors over plans to turn a former bed and breakfast near Welshpool into flats.
A planning application by Charanjit Singh to convert Unity House in Llandrinio into 15 one-bedroom apartments, two two-bedroom apartments and three studio apartments – with parking for 27 vehicles – was lodged with Powys County Council in February 2021.
The application was due to be decided by the council’s planning committee in June 2022, having been “called in” by Llandrinio county councillor Lucy Roberts who had “major concerns” about the project.
Llandrinio Community Council had also objected to the proposal's size and scale.
Principal planning officer Gemma Bufton had recommended giving the application conditional consent, but she told members that 15 minutes before the meeting she had received an email which “challenged” parts of the land ownership and also whether the appropriate notices had been served on the property.
She asked councillors to “defer” the application and that it would be back in front of them for a decision once “all facts have been ironed out”.
The scheme has been in limbo ever since.
Mr Singh’s agent The Planning Group Limited said in documents lodged with the Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) that they had agreed to the deferral in June 2022.
Following the meeting, The Planning Group said that the application form was amended with new notices served and adverts placed in newspapers to allow the proposal to be consulted on again.
But they say since then there has been a “constant” chasing up of the case officer asking for updates.
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The Planning Group said: “We wish the appeal to be undertaken by way of a hearing as the case is complex and is due to the LPA (Local Planning Authority – Powys County Council) not determining the application.
“At this stage of proceedings we have no reason to think the LPA will change their stance.”
The Planning Group said that an application for costs against Powys is also being made as they claim “unreasonable behaviour” by county planners during the appeal process.
The Planning Group said: “The proposed development will result in the dilapidated building being sympathetically brought back into use and provide a much needed mix of open market and affordable residential units.
“The inspector is requested to allow the appeal with conditions as appropriate.”
A spokesman for Powys County Council said: “The council confirms that the planning application is subject to a planning appeal to be determined by PEDW.”
The building was last used as a bed and breakfast around 15 years ago, and in 2008 planning permission was given to convert Unity House into a care home that could accommodate 44 people.
This planning permission is still in existence but was never implemented.
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