LESSONS will be learnt according to planners after they lost an appeal which will allow a developer to go ahead and build a bungalow in Llanfyllin.

At the Powys County Council Planning committee meeting on Thursday, December 3, councillors discussed an appeal that had been upheld by a Welsh Government Planning Inspector.

In December 2019, a planning officer had refused a detailed planning application by Graham Stroud,who wanted to build a two-bedroom bungalow rather than a two-storey house at plot five “Gobaith,” Bron y , in Llanfyllin.

Mr Stroud had received outline planning permission for the house back in 2013 with an extension on the permission granted in 2017.

Councillor David Jones said: “I thought the appeal in Llanfyllin was a very interesting one, as it was on design and materials grounds that it was refused by our planning department.

“Will there be a change of attitude?”

Planning lead Peter Morris, said: “When we have an appeal decision we always look at it, and have to learn lessons from it.

“In this instance the planning inspector obviously disagreed with the council’s or officer’s opinion and we just have to reflect on that.

“There is a degree of subjectivity but we will learn from it.”

In her report from December 2019, planning case officer Sara Robinson, had said that the proposals should be refused because the design did not “complement” or “enhance” the character of the surrounding area.

She added that it did not “contribute towards the preservation of local distinctiveness or sense of place, ” and that this was against policy.

Planning Inspector Richard Duggan who upheld the appeal, said: “Although the development would be seen as ‘out of keeping’ with the design and appearance of the other dwellings found along the street, the proposed dwelling would be architecturally superior and therefore visually preferable to the properties in the area.”

He added that the proposal also gave gave the opportunity to achieve “environmental and sustainable” goals.