The Planning Committee of Flintshire Council will be provided with reports on two planning applications for their consideration at their meeting on 18th December 2024. The applications are a resubmission of a previously withdrawn application for the redevelopment of a former pub in Holywell, and an application for the development of a residential annexe in Caerwys.

Redevelopment of the Talacre Arms Public House

The committee will be asked to consider a planning application for the redevelopment of the Talacre Arms public house in Holywell. The application (reference: FUL/000726/24) seeks permission to convert the pub into four apartments, and to build five new houses on the site. The application has been 'called in' to the committee at the request of the local councillor, Councillor T Palmer, who wishes the committee to consider the size of the development, and the proposed arrangements for access to the site.

Holywell Town Council supports the application subject to the suitability of the access.

The application was the subject of nine objections from members of the public, raising a range of concerns. The most commonly raised concern was about the impact of the development on the site's biodiversity:

Destruction of habitat and disposition of protected wildlife

The site is in the Holywell Conservation Area, close to several listed buildings. The report to the committee describes the building as making a positive contribution to the character of the area.

The application is a resubmission of a previously withdrawn application for the same site, which was withdrawn after several consultees, including Natural Resources Wales, raised concerns about the impact of the development on protected species, especially bats. The new application is accompanied by the results of several surveys of the site, and proposes the construction of a bat house on the site to mitigate the impact of the development.

Conversion of outbuildings at Brick Kiln Isaf, Caerwys

The committee will also be asked to consider an application for the conversion of two outbuildings to create a two bedroom annexe accommodation at Brick Kiln Isaf in Caerwys (reference: FUL/000581/24).

The application has been called in to committee by the local member, Councillor S Copple, in order for the committee to hear objections to the proposal.

The report to the committee recommends that the application be refused. The report argues that the scale of the works means that the development would in effect be a new house in the open countryside:

The scale and form of the proposal, the degree of separation and non-reliance on the services of the main dwelling results in a development that is essentially a new dwelling in the open countryside.

This would be contrary to the council's planning policies for development in the open countryside, in particular policies HN6 and HN4 of the Flintshire Local Development Plan.

The report also raises concerns about the impact of the development on biodiversity, especially bats, noting that while a survey was conducted in 2023, the applicant had not provided the results of more recent surveys, or shown how they would mitigate their impact.