Ceredigion planners are to visit the site of a scheme for a new office building at a waste management centre, which was again recommended for refusal on the grounds of potential impact on a neighbouring property.

Ceredigion County Council’s development management committee, at its October 9 meeting, was recommended to refuse an application by D I Evans, of waste management business D I Evans Cyf for a new two-storey office building, replacing existing portacabin-style buildings, the retention of a storage building, and the creation of car parking area and associated works at Gwrthwynt, Beulah.

The application was recommended for refusal as the siting, scale, and design of the proposed office building was considered “to present unacceptable amenity harm” to a nearby dwelling known as 'Delfryn'.

A similar previous application was refused by planners this April on the basis of the impact on Delfryn.

A supporting statement with that proposal, through agent JMS Planning and Development said: “D I Evans is a family operated business, originally providing services as an agricultural contractors who have expanded to the waste management sector providing a range of services such as skip hire, waste disposal and recycling, in addition to septic tank emptying, drain surveys and sewer connections.

“The site has been utilised as a waste management centre since 1960 with various buildings accommodating the different uses on site. DI Evans employ 11 full-time staff members and six part-time staff members.”

It added: “The number of staff will remain as existing, but the purpose-built office will provide them with an enhanced working environment, fit for purpose and allows for a designated space for each employee.”

The application was supported by local community council Beulah.

An officer report recommended refusal on the basis of the impact on a neighbouring property, Delfryn.

“The new office building and storage building would cover the majority of the rear boundary of this property, with the office building being two storeys high. As a result, they would have an adverse impact on the amenity of Delfryn with regards to loss of light and outlook and would also be visually overbearing.”

That application was refused as it was considered to have a significant harmful impact on the occupiers of the neighbouring residential property.

The latest amended application was referred to committee by local member Cllr Chris James, who said: “The applicants are very keen to maintain a positive relationship with its neighbours and have made every effort to design the proposal so as to minimise its impact to neighbours.

“In fact, no objection has been raised by the individuals who adjoin the development site boundary.”

His statement added: “Despite the amendments, the company believes that it is not practical to further amend the proposal as it would be impractical. The process has reached a point whereby it is a difference in opinion that is stopping the development from being undertaken.”

An officer report said: “The refused application sought the placement of the same proposed office building, sited marginally to the north-west to cover half the rear boundary of Gwrthwynt (under applicant control) and half the rear boundary of Delfryn (third party) with the relocated storage building occupying the remainder of the space to the rear of Delfryn.

“Thus, while the relocated storage building has been proposed to be moved away from Delfryn entirely, the two-storey office building has in fact now been sited across the near-entirety of the boundary with Delfryn, offset by only two metres from the intersecting chain link fence.”

At the request of Cllr Gareth Lloyd committee members agreed to a site visit by its site inspection panel before any decision was made, the application returning to a future planning meeting.