Reduced house number submitted for village development

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

Fewer houses are set to be built in Churchstoke as Powys County Council (PCC) reveals fresh new plans for a site in the village.

New detailed proposals for land next to Fir House in Churchstoke have been lodged by James Knight of the council’s Housing Service with county planners for 38 dwellings which will all be for “social rent”.

Previous versions of the proposal, which were first proposed in 2016, had been for 45 homes to be built at the site.

In January 2017, an outline planning application was approved by councillors on the Planning Committee which means that the principle for building on the site has been agreed – but the details of the scheme still need to be submitted and agreed in a further planning application.

Since then, there have been problems developing the site, which has seen the need to extend the time limit allowed for the development.

The new reserved matters proposal explains that 10 of the houses will have one-bedroom, 10 with two bedrooms, eight would be for three-bedrooms and two would have four-bedrooms.

The remaining eight dwellings are set to be bungalows, four with one-bedroom and four with two-bedrooms.

Spring Design have explained the proposal in a Design and Access statement stating: “The site is situated on the south-eastern edge of Churchstoke and is currently a green field that is bounded to the north-east by the A489 trunk road. The site is a rectilinear field that slopes from north-west to south-east.

“Beyond the south-western boundary of the site are long distance views across open countryside.

“There is an existing barn on the site that is to be demolished as part of the proposed development.”

Spring Design continued: “All 38 units are proposed for social rent this comprises of 100% of the total development, responding to both the policy requirements and local need identified by PCC.

“The inherently robust nature of housing designed in accordance Welsh Government Development Quality Requirements and the lifetime homes standards will ensure that the development can anticipate potential change in the make-up and needs of occupiers, thereby facilitating future diversity both within the development and in the wider locality.

They add that the development makes “efficient use” of the available land on the site.

A decision on the application is expected by December 16.

PICTURE: An artist's impression of how the site would look.