Shed extension approved despite residents' concerns

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

A watching brief will be kept on the site of an agricultural shed extension near Welshpool to ensure it is not used for construction business purposes, councillors have been assured.

At a meeting of Powys County Council’s Planning Committee on Thursday (April 16), councillors received a report on an application by Tom Owen to extend an agricultural shed at Tenements Yard, Buttington.

In May last year, Mr Owen was granted planning permission to build an agricultural shed at the site with a gross internal floor space of 440 square metres. The proposed extension would provide an extra 460 square metres of floor space.

But the proposal has caused concern locally, which is why local Powys councillor Amanda Jenner asked for the application to be decided by councillors.

Planning Officer, Hannah Miller, recommended that councillors approve the application and explained that conditions would be placed on planning permission to ensure that the shed is for agricultural use only, and that no livestock would be permitted there.

Cllr Jenner (Conservative – Trelystan and Trewern) said: “The main concern that has been passed to me from the community is that this is not agricultural.

“I understand from neighbours in the vicinity and feedback from my community that this is a construction company and that over a number of years the business has expanded here and that there has been more commercial and construction traffic movement.”

She asked what had been done to “verify” and ensure that the shed extension would be used for what had been applied for, and said traffic impact should be “further considered” by planning officers.

Oliver Evans, the Planning Agent for the applicants, said: “There is no increase in traffic, the proposal does not introduce a new activity or machinery, it simply allows existing machinery to be stored under cover rather than outside.”

Cllr Huw Williams (Labour – Abercraf and Ystradgynlais) said: “How do you define construction from agricultural equipment?”

Planning Committee Chair, Cllr Gareth D Jones (Powys Independents – Llanfair Caereinion and Llanerfyl), suggested that the type of diesel used could be checked.

Development Management Team Leader, Gemma James, said: “If we ever have any concerns it would need to go through an appropriate investigation stage.

“There are powers available to officers to thoroughly investigate whether there is a construction business operating from that site.”

She added that digger machinery seen in photographs shown to the committee could be explained because the previously permitted shed at the site is in the process of being built.

Mrs James stressed: “We’re definitely hearing the concerns being raised by the community and the local member, and we will be monitoring that site to ensure it operates in accordance with those permissions and conditions.”

Cllr Williams remained unconvinced and believed the definition needs to be tightened up to ensure the business use of the site does not “stray” from agricultural to construction.

Councillors eventually voted on the proposal, with 10 in favour and one abstention.