Controversial plans to build 29 homes on a flood-hit site in Caersws have been paused after the Welsh Government stepped in.

Minister for Climate Change Julie James MS will now consider taking charge of the decision over 29 homes at Pen y Borfa, lodged with Powys County Council by Towyn Marine Properties Ltd on behalf of the landowners Alwyn and Geraint Jarman in November last year.

The application was validated at the end of January after a pre-planning application consultation.

Outline plans for 43 properties including a “sheltered housing development” on the site were approved in 2020, but the applicants wanted to amend the approval by deleting the sheltered housing part of the proposal last summer.

This would allow more flexibility to develop the site which has flooding issues.

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This application was refused and Powys planners advised that a new planning application would be needed for any reduction in size for the development.

The new proposal would see the 29 homes split into two four-bedroom detached homes, 11 three-bedroom detached homes, 10 three-bedroom semi-detached homes and six three-bedroom terraced houses.

County Times: Pen y Borfa in Caersws.Pen y Borfa in Caersws.

Three of the homes would be classed as affordable homes.

A Welsh Government spokesman confirmed that a call in request had been received, meaning Powys County Council can continue processing the application but not to grant it planning permission. The council still has the right to refuse the plan.

Caersws Community Council discussed the proposal at an extraordinary council meeting on February 15.

The community council said: “Councillors and residents discussed the planning application and there was some disagreement regarding whether the council should put forward an objection or a neutral response."

The council said they were “all were in agreement“ over a number of concerns for the project, including sewerage, parking and flooding.

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Residents are concerned the development will “cause faster surface water run-off into the Manthrig Brook", worsening local flooding.

If the proposal is given the go ahead, the council want to see a legal agreement made to ensure that the developers do the necessary work to: “alleviate the current flooding issues from Manthrig Brook” so that the development doesn’t make flooding worse for people living close by.

The council said that they will be asking the Powys County Councillor for Caersws, Cllr Les George to “call in” the application to be decided by Planning committee.

Members of the Caersws Residents Group have said that they have also lodged objections to the proposal with Powys planners.

Planning agent Etchell’s Architecture said:  “Due to the previously highlighted flood risk constraints, the developable area for the site has been reduced to 1.05 hectares.

“The reduction of development size is borne from the desire to ensure there is no flood risk to either the proposed development or the neighbouring properties.”

They added that a registered social landlord has already shown an “interest” in the affordable housing aspect of the scheme.