PLANS for a domestic outbuilding in Neath Port Talbot to be used as a holistic therapy centre have been temporarily approved by the council despite it already operating without permission.
The proposals were given the go-ahead at a planning committee on February 10, 2026, where council bosses were told about the request for a detached property known as Llety’r Goff Farm in Gellinudd, Pontardawe.
The application asked for a change of use for an outbuilding located within the garden of the property off Cwm Nant Llwyd Road, for it to be operated as a commercial holistic therapy centre used for yoga classes.
The detached outbuilding was given approval to be built by the council in 2021, where it was set to be used as extra living accommodation and “uses ancillary to the use of the dwelling”.
However, the report said the authority had been notified that the building was being “operated unlawfully” with the application now aiming to regularise the commercial use at the centre that includes one-to-one and group yoga sessions.
The report highlighted that a total of nine objections had been made against the plans, which focused on the increased use of an access lane that some felt could cause safety risks to pedestrians along with impacts on visual and residential amenity.
Officers said they recommended a temporary approval for the change over a period of two years, as they felt it represented an appropriate form of development.
Speaking at the meeting they added that this would come with some conditions, including the opening times moving to after 8.30am as well as on the number of people attending classes.
They said that this would test the water to see if it was a viable business going forward and if they could operate in a rural location without having an unacceptable impact on the joining properties.
Local member Cllr Bob Woolford said he called the plans in to the committee because of the conditions placed on class sizes and start times which could be detrimental to the viability of the business.
However, following discussions councillors agreed to approve the plans with the officers conditions, on the basis that a further application to vary them could be submitted within the two years.
