Plans to build a “final dwelling” retirement bungalow for the developers of a Ceredigion housing estate have been refused despite a call for backing by a senior councillor as there was a policy need for “affordable homes for local people”.

In an application recommended for refusal at the October 9 meeting of Ceredigion County Council’s development management committee, R & S Stephens sought permission for a bungalow, garage, and associated works at Plot 27, Heol Y Cwm, Cross Inn, near New Quay.

A report for planners said the existing Heol y Cwm estate had 26 dwellings, 10 of them affordable, the application being brought to the committee at the request of local member, and Cabinet Member for Partnerships, Housing, Legal and Governance and Public Protection Cllr Matthew Vaux.

(Image: Ceredigion County Council)

In his submission to planners, the New Quay county councillor had said: “Cross Inn is a stone throw from New Quay, which is a massively underperforming service centre, as such close-by villages like this help to address and provide much-needed housing which is not coming forward in NQ.

“There is a definite need for housing across the county. Cross Inn is a sustainable location, there are bus routes, local shops etc. This final dwelling on the residential estate will complete the entire site. It will be providing a purpose-built retirement bungalow for the developers of the entire site, Mr and Mrs Stephens.

“These applicants have contributed significantly to the provision of on-site affordable housing throughout the construction of their residential development, providing 10 affordable units in total.”

The report said a previous, larger, application was refused earlier this year partly on the basis there was “no demonstrated need for any additional open market dwellings in Cross Inn”.

Local community council Llanllwchaearn objected to the proposal, saying: “The community council continue to agree with the previous reasons for refusing the original application. There's no need for further open market houses in Cross Inn. The need is for affordable housing for local people.”

The report adds: “The application seeks to demonstrate that there is additional need for housing in Cross Inn specifically in order to justify exceeding the allowance set out under the LDP. This is based on evidence from the Housing Register. However, as the proposal is for an open market dwelling, it would not address the need identified, as the Housing Register indicates need for affordable housing only.”

The permitting of an open market dwelling would incur an affordable housing contribution in the form of a commuted sum at 10 per cent of the open market value, which the applicants have offered.

The application was subject to previous consideration by the planning committee’s ‘cooling off’ group, which felt there was “scope to consider an additional affordable home at the site in line with the findings of the LHMA, but not an open market property.”

At the October meeting, Cllr Gareth Lloyd praised the high quality of the estate, but stressed that planning policy prevented the granting of an open-market house, moving the application be refused: “I would support an affordable house, but that isn’t; it’s out of our hands.”

Members backed the officer recommendation to refuse the open-market application.