Plans by a Newtown company to expand its factory in Newtown, potentially creating 25 jobs, have been put on hold by council planners.
Pear Stairs' plans, which is owned by Boys and Boden, had seen its plans for the former Laura Ashley distribution centre on Newtown's Vastre Industrial Estate due before Powys County Council's planning committee on Monday, October 15.
They want to extend a factory building and reprofile land at Unit A on the estate, but the plans have received 13 objections.
However, councillors were asked to put the decision back by a month because of a procedural issue.
Senior planning officer Kate Bowen said: “Unfortunately with this application something has risen during the meeting whereby we are going to be recommending that we defer consideration of this application.”
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She explained that “inappropriate public consultation” had occurred in the lead up to the meeting “in terms of committee procedures.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Services has been told that objectors wanted to be allowed to have more public speakers express their concerns to the committee.
A Powys county councillor, a community councillor, and five further speakers had been seen to object to another application debated in the meeting, over changing the use of a house in Caehopkin near Abercrave into a children’s care home.
Cllr Elwyn Vaughan moved the officer’s recommendation to defer the item and this was agreed by the rest of the committee.
Committee chairman, Cllr Gareth D Jones said: “Can I sincerely apologise to the members of the public that are here.
“I know your time is precious.”
The factory application, which was recommended for approval by planning officers is expected come back to the committee’s next meeting, for a decision.
Boys and Boden bought the site in November 2020 and have said that they need the extension to support an expansion of the firm's operations.
They have said that moving their existing Pear Stairs factory to Newtown is “integral” to their company’s future as they have “outgrown” their current base at Mill Lane in Welshpool
They said that it will “not only” safeguard the 62 existing jobs but also increase the workforce by 40 per cent through the creation of 25 new jobs.
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