The Carmarthenshire Council Planning Committee met on Tuesday 29 July 2025 and granted planning permission for the formation of an agricultural track and hardstanding, along with the siting of a portable steel container for agricultural machinery storage at Land adjacent to Y Drim, Ponthenri, Llanelli. The meeting was held in person and remotely.

Planning Application PL/08375: Agricultural Track and Storage Container at Land adjacent to Y Drim, Ponthenri

The committee granted planning permission for the formation of an agricultural track and hardstanding, and the siting of a portable steel container for agricultural machinery storage at Land adjacent to Y Drim, Ponthenri, Llanelli, SA15 5NY. This application was partly retrospective, as the track and hardstanding had already been created. The development is intended to support a new horticultural enterprise on the land, which will involve growing vegetables for local sale. The track and container will also be used for the felling and removal of ash trees affected by ash dieback disease.

The application was brought before the committee due to objections received from third parties and a previous site visit by the committee members. Concerns raised by local residents and County Councillor Alex Evans¹ included potential highway impacts from large agricultural vehicles using the estate road of Y Drim, risks to pedestrians and children, restricted access due to on-street parking, and negative impacts on biodiversity. Councillor Alex Evans also suggested that a separate access via the B4317 would be more appropriate.

However, the Head of Place and Sustainability's report concluded that the proposed development was acceptable. The report noted that the Council's Valuations Manager was satisfied that the track, hardstanding, and container were reasonably necessary for the horticultural enterprise. The Head of Transportation & Highways raised no objection, stating that the existing estate road was adequate and that highway safety and pedestrian impacts would not be unacceptable. The report also highlighted that the development would include new native species hedgerow and tree planting, providing a net benefit for biodiversity, and that a condition would be imposed to prevent customer visits to the site for purchasing or collecting produce.

The committee resolved to grant planning permission subject to conditions detailed in the report, including that the development be used strictly for agricultural purposes and that the approved landscaping scheme be implemented. A specific condition was also imposed to prevent any customer or other visits to the site for the purposes of purchasing or collecting produce, in the interest of safeguarding highway safety and the living conditions of neighbouring residents.