Councillor’s barn application approved
By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter
The application to change the usage category of the building at Pont y Pentre near Llansantffraid (pictured) from B1 to B8 allows it to be used as a storage and distribution facility.
The application only came before the planning committee at their meeting because it had been made by local county councillor, Gwynfor Thomas who is also Powys County Council’s vice-chairman.
All planning applications made by councillors and Powys County Council staff must be decided by the planning committee.
Principal planning officer Tamsin Law told the committee that the Welsh Government’s technical advice note 23 (TAN), which deals with economic development, supports the re-use of agricultural buildings for other commercial purposes. She recommended the application for approval.
Councillor Roger Williams, said: “B1 to B8 class use is storage, but does it mean anything about the type of material that will be stored there? Will it be inert materials such as building supplies or could it be food?
“Would there be any storage use that would not be compatible to a farm setting as well?”
Ms Law said: “Once the use class goes, we can’t really control what it’s used for internally and what’s stored there. It’s not incompatible with a farm.
“I imagine you could also look at this as a form of farm diversification and it would be supported in policies.”
Councillor Linda Corfield said: “I think it’s welcome to use existing buildings rather than putting up more.”
Cllr Corfield said that she was ready to propose the application for approval and Councillor Huw Williams seconded the proposal.
Committee solicitor, Colin Edwards, added: “I want to make it clear because it’s a councillor’s application, that I have looked at the documents in question. I can confirm that it has been processed normally.”
Councillors voted unanimously to approve the application.
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