Flintshire Council decides on plans for Traveller site

An application had been submitted for the change of use of land off Gladstone Way, near the A494, in Hawarden for stationing of caravans for residential purposes, together with the formation of hardstanding and a utility/day room.

There would also be an entrance gate and fencing. The application was submitted partly in retrospect.

The proposed site location (Image: Planning documents)

The land, which is owned by the applicant, was subject to a similar application in 2022, which was rejected by Flintshire Council's planning committee on the grounds that it was deemed an inappropriate development in the open countryside, and that insufficient information had been submitted regarding a drainage solution. 

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Plans were re-submitted following the adoption of Flintshire Council's new Local Development Plan (LDP). 

However, the council has once again refused the plans on the grounds of concerns over "inappropriate" development in the open countryside. 

A decision notice by Flintshire Council's planning officials states: "In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the proposal represents inappropriate development which does not maintain the openness of the green wedge and would conflict with the purposes of including land within this designation by encroaching upon the countryside.

"There are no very exceptional circumstances that would allow this form of development at this location. As such it is considered that the proposal is contrary to policy EN11 of the Flintshire Local Development Plan."