Plas Gwyn

Gwynedd Council had refused a retrospective application for planning permission for various alterations and extensions to a large bungalow in the Llŷn Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and within a designated Heritage Coast.

Philip handled the subsequent appeal, which was decided following a bilingual hearing. In allowing the appeal, the inspector appointed by Welsh ministers found that the works had not harmed the appearance of the building or the surrounding landscape, or had an unacceptable impact on the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring property or on the users of an adjacent touring caravan site.

The inspector also made a full award of costs against the Council for failing to have proper regard to the appellant’s fall-back position, which had been established by previous planning permissions. The Council had behaved unreasonably by failing to show there were valid planning reasons, supported by substantive evidence, for rejecting the application.