41 affordable homes approved to help address Gwynedd housing crisis

But who should get the homes fuelled a debate when Cyngor Gwynedd’s planning committee discussed the scheme.

Some councillors wanted residents from Penrhyndeudraeth only to get the housing – “not people from outside” – which included those from elsewhere in the county including Bangor and Caernarfon.

However, planning officers at the July 17 meeting explained the homes would be allocated in line with the council’s housing allocation policy and housing needs.

The homes would be a mix of sizes and types, to be built on land adjacent to Trem y Moelwyn, Penrhyndeudraeth.

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The development was considered “acceptable” because it would provide 41 affordable homes – exceeding the requirement of 10 percent of affordable homes which would have been just four homes. The housing development was also higher than Penrhyndeudraeth’s housing allocation, but this was considered “acceptable” due to “local housing need” and “lack of social provision,” Keira Sweenie the planning officer said.

The proposals would include a new access and estate road and was located on land allocated for homes within the Anglesey and Gwynedd Joint Local Development Plan. The homes would be provided by social landlords, with Grŵp Cynefin managing 19 homes and Clwyd Allan, 22.

There would be no visual impact on surrounding homes and the houses were considered of a “high quality” and “beneficial” to the area. The design was to be “welcomed” and would ensure “a good standard of living for residents.”

Concerns had been raised over access but there were no road safety reservations and “enough capacity” identified at local schools. The developers would also make a financial contribution to improve a local play site.

Planning officers were satisfied and recommended the committee approve the application. Jamie Bradshaw spoke for three minutes saying the scheme would provide an “entirely affordable housing development, a careful mix, picked to meet local needs.”

He noted there were 400 households on the housing waiting list and the homes would make a “considerable local contribution to meeting the local housing crisis”. Councillor Meryl Roberts supported the application and said the town council wanted to know “if the people from Penrhyn would be offered the homes first, not people from outside, that is the thing that worries us most.”

Cllr Elwyn Edwards proposed the plan, asking for assurances “that people from Penrhyn would have the houses”. Planning officer Gareth Jones explained the homes could only be allocated according to the council’s allocation policy.

Cllr Edwards asked “but doesn’t that include the whole of Gwynedd?” Mr Jones said the allocation policy considered various matters such as location and connection with the area, and other allocation evaluation.

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Cllr Ann Lloyd-Jones seconded the proposal, saying “you can’t make it a condition that houses are only for people from Penrhyn”. “They can no longer build in Port because of flooding, so there might be people from Porthmadog coming over.

“As long as it meets out Gwynedd policies for local people, I am happy to second the proposal,” she said.

Cllr Gruff Williams questioned Cllr Elwyn Edwards’ initial proposal, but Cllr Edwards said he would “stick with it.” “I am happy if the homes are for people in the Penrhyndeudraeth catchment area, including Port, but not from further afield.

Cllr John Puw thought the housing plan “too large” and would draw people further afield such as Caernarfon and Bangor. But planning officer Jones described “challenges” in Porthmadog due to flooding issues, saying the affordable scheme of 41 houses in Penrhyn would need to help address some of the housing needs from further afield.

In a vote, 10 were in favour there were no abstentions and two against, the housing would go ahead.