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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Dale Spridgeon & Paige Oldfield

Villagers living in fear that their seaside village will become a 'Little Manchester'

Concerns have been raised that a Welsh village could turn into turn into a haven for Manchester's millionaires, pushing out local families.

A councillor highlighted the impact of development of Anglesey's coastline at a meeting of a planning committee, where proposals to extend a property in picturesque Llandona, the Beaumaris village with a wide sandy beach.

He warned that development risked opening the door to Llandona becoming 'Little Manchester', adding 'It'll be another Abersoch before we turn around'.

Abersoch, the village on North Wales Llyn Peninsula, is known as a popular staycation and second home spot for people based in affluent commuter areas near Manchester, like Hale and Cheshire's 'Golden Triangle' towns of Wilmslow and Alderley Edge.

Following a site visit, speaking at the meeting where the Llandona planning application was discussed, Councillor Carwyn Jones said,: "If you could turn clock back, standing on the beach there you would have seen local houses, full of character, with small Welsh farm houses there, my own grandmother lived along there.

"This before you today will transform the coastline of Anglesey and the Welsh heritage of local houses. This is going to be little Manchester soon, this is setting a precedent. It'll be another Abersoch before we turn round.

"This will stand out like a sore thumb in an AONB (Area of Natural Beauty). What we need locally in a place like Llanddona, like everywhere, is houses sustainable for the future where local people can buy them to have families.

"If this was built and if it ever goes on the market, it will be a million pound house, out of the reach of anyone working in the local area, in the local school in Beaumaris, Ena's shop or serving in the Bulkeley.

"This would set a precedent that the coastline of Anglesey is being made for multi-millionaires, only they could afford the houses."

The application concerns the redevelopment of a two-bedroom house at Llandona, with plans including the demolition of a UPVc extension, a glass link single storage gabled extension, a new patio with storage and a two storey dormer window development.

READ MORE: The town that has become 'overloaded' with 'poor' and 'cramped' housing

As the planning committee discussed whether the development would have any negative impacts on the area or neighbouring properties, concerns were raised over its location and design and potential light pollution, and the fact that the build would be in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The modern development would also be seen from Llanddona beach when the tide was low, the Daily Post reports.

Councillor Alun Roberts argued there was a "strong feeling" about the development from all members of the local community council and residents who felt it was "detrimental to the village".

Tan Yr Allt Bach Llanddona (Taken from Anglesey Council planning documents)

He raised concerns it was on a "dangerous corner" meaning more traffic "affecting the highway network", and that the property could be developed into two properties or used as a holiday home.

The road was also steep by the house, he said, and there were already traffic issues reported with camper vans.

Cllr Carwyn Jones was also concerned about the prospect of holiday letting, as well as light pollution.

"Usually there would be no hope to build a new property on the coastline in an AONB like that, but if you put a glass link span like this, you can have two in one - I see this as an application to build a totally new house, with the excuse of a glass link span," he said.

Cllr Ken Taylor said he sympathised with what others had said, but added: "We have no idea this will be used as a holiday home in two or three years, all we can do it follow the planning policies."

Following the debate, councillors agreed to make a second visit to the site at Tan Yr Allt Bach. The application had been received from Phil Smith submitted through agent Richard Sandbank, of JAR Architecture & Design Ltd.

In a three minute statement read by an officer on behalf of Mr Sandbach, the applicants said the renovations were solely to improve the house's "amenity" and "aligned with their family needs," as they had become grandparents earlier in the year.

They had also amended the plans following the consultation, they said and claimed the design principles and elements were a "modest" intervention "not detrimental" to the local community.

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