Where will 100 new staff park?

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

Where will all the Welsh Government staff park when they move over to work from Powys County Council’s (PCC) County Hall (pictured) in Llandrindod Wells later this year?

At the latest planning committee meeting, councillors discussed an application to build a single storey front extension and create a new reception hall at PCC headquarters.

The extension is needed as part of a deal that will move over 100 Welsh Government staff from across the road at their current Spa Road office to be based at PCC’s headquarters.

Welshpool Councillor, Francesca Jump, said: “I have no objection to the design, my problem with this comes mainly from the extra staff coming to the building.

“Where are you going to find 50 to 100 car parking spaces and their visitors as well? I just don’t know, you can’t park now half of the time anyway.”

Planning officer, Bryn Pryce, answered: “We’re only really considering the office extension as part of this application. As far as I’m aware there may well be another application coming forward that deals with car parking.”

The application by agents Avison Young on behalf of The Welsh Government was only submitted on December 18, 2019.

The proposed extension will measure 5.3 metres in width, 7.5 metres in length and 3.7 metres in height and will have a “green” eco roof.

Mr Pryce explained that County Hall is located in the designated Llandrindod Wells Public Historic Parks and Garden.

Due to this, The Welsh Government’s historic service, CADW has been consulted, but no comments had been received by the time the report had been completed.

Mr Pryce, said: “We have now received comments from CADW. They have confirmed that the extension is unlikely to have any impact on the significance of the historic park and garden.”

Cllr E. Michael Jones, committee vice-chairman, moved that the proposal be approved as recommended by officers and it was voted through unanimously by councillors.

It is expected that 130 Welsh Government Agriculture Department and Natural Resources Wales staff will move into County Hall by Christmas 2020.

They will be leasing the ground floor and PCC’s members lounge will be altered as part of the move.

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