LLANGOLLEN could soon have 22 new holiday lodges – with developers claiming the plans could generate £1.14m for the local economy.
Hereford Dwellings Company Limited has applied to Denbighshire County Council’s planning department, seeking permission for 22 new holiday lodges and one storage building at Eirianfa Country Park, on Berwyn Street, Llangollen.
The plans, which will be discussed by a planning committee next week, also include parking and internal pathways, the installation of a package treatment plant, and landscaping.
All 22 of the holiday homes will be let out on a short-term basis of either a full or half week, with none being individually owned.
If granted, there would be two site managers and four cleaners and groundsmen employed to run the site next to the River Dee.
The application says the applicants have over 40 years of experience as leisure park operators.
Planning officers are recommending the committee approve the plans. The planning report states: “Officers consider that the scheme would create significant economic benefits for the area through construction, job creation, and use.
“As the units are proposed to be let only, this would ensure the ongoing management/upkeep of the units and site generally.”
But Llangollen Town Council said the plans were “not small in scale and proportionate to its location”.
The town council said the development was close to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site.
The council received five letters of objection, which raised traffic congestion, overdevelopment, and concerns about safety as the site is close to the river.
A summary of objectors’ anti-social behaviour fears is also included in the planning report, alleging a previous campsite on the land brought unruly behaviour.
The report states: “There were anti-social behaviour issues when the site was previously used for low-price camping (previous owners), including gangs of badly behaved teenagers, vandalism, fireworks; car tyres were slashed.”
It added: “Police resources are severely limited and unlikely that they will be able to respond to any behavioural problems.”
The plans will be discussed at Wednesday’s (May 13) planning committee at Denbighshire County Council’s Ruthin County Hall HQ.
