PLANS to build affordable homes in a famous village at the sharp end of Gwynedd’s second home crisis have been submitted.
Famed for its stunning beach-side location, Aberdaron natives have long had to compete with second home seekers, holiday let investors and those looking to retire to the area, to stay in their own community.
The village, on the western tip of Wales, has been reported as an area where only 2% of locals can afford to buy a home.
Developers say a new project to provide domestic housing at land by Lôn Deunant, will provide a mix of homes to meet the needs of local families on the local authority waiting list and those in housing need.
Cyngor Gwynedd will consider a full application for the erection of eight “affordable” dwellings in a rural location on an “exception site”.
Exception sites concern land where development, particularly for affordable housing, is allowed, but wouldn’t normally be permitted under usual planning policies.
The Grŵp Cynefin housing association project also includes associated development to include creation of vehicular access, estate road, landscaping and sustainable surface water drainage area.
The application has been made by Owain Williams, of Williams Homes ( Bala ) Ltd.
The proposed development will comprise of three person, two-bedroom bungalows, three five-person three-bedroom houses, one five-person three-bedroom dual aspect/side entry house and one seven-person four-bedroom home.
The application states: “The size and massing of the new semi-detached homes has been conceived to respect the scale, character and massing of the surrounding residential properties in Aberdaron.”
They said the homes were “intended to sit comfortably, with safe access from the Lôn Deunant road with good pedestrian access”.
The proposal says each of the new homes will have direct access to a secure private garden and amenity space with clothes drying facilities and bins stores, small patio areas and a safe outdoor space for children to play.
There will also be space for two cars at each property.
The plans state: “The aim is to create a modern, well equipped housing scheme that is sensitive to context, meeting the needs of local families on the local authority waiting list and those in housing need.
“The type of new housing offered responds to the demands of individuals and smaller families seeking good quality housing in the area.
“The new dwellings will be domestic in scale and appearance, attractive and energy efficient, responding sensitively to the local built form using a palette of building materials compatible with the vernacular.”
Earlier this year the Welsh Government made an additional £10m available to help kick-start the development of new affordable housing schemes across Wales.
It aims to support the delivery of additional homes, contributing towards the Welsh Government’s target of 20,000 new low carbon social homes for rent in the social sector during this Senedd term. It will also support homes approved and started in 2025-26 and completed in the next Senedd term.
