COUNCILLORS have given the thumbs-up to plans for a terrace of three homes in the car park of a former historic Powys pub – but they will be prevented from becoming holiday lets.

At a meeting of Powys County Council’s Planning committee on Monday, October 14, councillors debated a proposal by Michael Broxton to build three houses next to The Cottage Inn in Montgomery.

The proposal was called before the committee by Montgomery’s Powys county councillor Jeremy Brignell-Thorp.

Cllr Brignell-Thorpe said: “I object on the grounds that it has not complied to the Future Generations Act 2015.

“Public bodies are required by law to make sure that when they make decisions, they take into account the impact these could have on people living in the future.”

Cllr Brignell-Thorp believed this application and a previous application failed to address this need as it removed the pub as a “community facility”.

Cllr Brinell-Thorp said: “Until it was purchased by the owner it was a thriving pub.

“There are only two other venues in the town that serve drinks, both are about 500 metres away.”

He added that in the new version of the Local Development Plan that is being worked on by the council there will be more housing developments in and around Montgomery but without community facilities.

Cllr Brignell-Thorpe: “So in this part of Montgomery there will be just housing, nowhere for residents to meet for drinks.

“This is precisely what the future generations act is trying to protect against and ensure our towns do not become hollowed out dormitories.”

(Image: NQ)

Mr Broxton’s planning agent Gerallt Davies of Roger Parry and Partners explained that the original application had been withdrawn because Montgomery town council had raised concerns over design and layout.

Mr Davies said: “We resubmitted the application with a change of design to be a bit more traditional and in keeping with the town.

“We are glad to say the town council had no objections when they saw the layout.”

Planning officer Rhian Griffiths recommended councillors approve the plans.

She also agreed that any attempt to use the properties as holiday lets could be subject to a condition that they come back for planning permission.

Cllr Elwyn Vaughan then put forward the recommendation to approve the application with a condition that it would be for: “residential use only.”

But before the vote took place Cllr Karl Lewis asked if this condition could be challenged by the applicant.

“It’s possible, “said Peter Morris the council’s planning professional lead.

The application went to a vote and was supported unanimously by all 13 councillors in the meeting.

In March 2023, Mr Broxton was given planning permission to convert the 18th century pub into a four-bedroom house.

The Cottage Inn had been used as a visitor centre for Monty’s Brewery but closed in 2020.