Go ahead given for 28 Guilsfield homes

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

Detailed plans to build 28 affordable homes on the edge of Guilsfield have been given the go ahead by Powys planners.

But it is expected that a lower speed limit than the current 60mph will be needed on a section of the B4392 road at Tan y Gaer, which is on a bend before coming into Guilsfield from the direction of Arddleen.

The reserved matter planning application was submitted at the end of July last year by Williams Homes (Bala) which included details of the layout, scale, appearance and landscaping.

Just days earlier an outline planning application, which had been lodged with Powys County Council by Margaret Bardsley in 2019, was approved which established the principle of development at the site.

Williams Homes are building the scheme on behalf of Clwyd Alyn Housing Association.

The development will be a mixture of four one-bedroom flats, 11 two-bedroom semi-detached houses, 11 three-bedroom semi-detached houses and two semi-detached and detached four-bedroom properties.

In September last year, Guilsfield Community Council raised concerns about the development, including the “potential for accidents, due to the proximity from the entrance to the village”.

The councillors wanted to see reduce speed signs installed to warn drivers of the upcoming speed limits and a pedestrian walkway installed.

At the outset of the process Powys council’s highways authority had been “unable” to support the proposal – but over the ensuing months after discussions took place with the applicants, their stance softened.

After reviewing the revised drawings and details submitted to support the application the highways authority officers withdrew their earlier objection.

Senior planning officer Kate Bowen said: “The consultee responses have been carefully considered and based on the discussion; the recommendation is one of conditional consent.”

If a new traffic regulation order is needed for a new speed limit to be implemented it is expected that the developer would pay “reasonable costs” to the council for this to happen and would include the signage.