PLANS for 22 holiday lodges on the edge of Llangollen were approved by Denbighshire County Council’s planning committee, paving the way for a £1.14m boost to the area’s tourist economy.
Councillors unanimously voted in favour of the proposal at the authority’s Ruthin County Hall HQ, with Cllr Karen Edwards proposing the committee approved the plans and Cllr Alan James seconding her following council officers recommending approval.
Developers Hereford Dwellings Company Limited will now build 22 holiday lodges and a single storage building at Eirianfa Country Park on Berwyn Street, as well as parking, internal access routes, landscaping works, and a package treatment plant.
The lodges will be used exclusively for short-term holiday lets, with no private ownership.
The developer says the site will be staffed by two managers, alongside four cleaners and grounds staff, and claims to have more than 40 years of experience in running leisure parks.
Speaking at the meeting, planning officer Paul Griffin said the planning application was “an improvement all around”.
He added if the application wasn’t granted the site “could remain as it stands – empty, an eyesore” and reminded councillors “there would be very little we could do about that at that point”.
He said: “This offers a sensible way forward.”
Cllr James Elson said he supported the application and was “very impressed” by the applicant’s consideration in referencing how the plans could affect the environment, the local workforce, and businesses.
Cllr Chris Evans then asked if jobs would go to “local people”.
Planning officers said dictating how the workforce was hired was outside the powers of the planning committee.
Before the meeting, Llangollen Town Council had opposed the development, suggesting it was “not small in scale and proportionate to its location”.
The town council had highlighted the development’s proximity to both an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site.
Five letters of objection were also received, raising fears over traffic pressure, overdevelopment, and river safety.
Some residents had also pointed to alleged anti-social behaviour linked to previous low-cost camping at the site.
