Plans to build two holiday units on the Llyn Peninsula have been rejected by planners against the advice of council officers.

On Monday, Gwynedd Council’s planning committee was recommended to approve the plans at Tynpwll Cottage, Lôn Ty’n Pwll, Nefyn, which would see a storage unit demolished to make way for the twin one-storey holiday lets.

But, following passionate speeches against the development, members turned down the plan amid concern that it could lead to a precedent in the area.

Local member Cllr Gruff Williams urged the committee to ignore the advice of planning officers, despite a warning that the council could be liable to costs if the applicant were successful upon appeal.

“The line is being blurred between holiday homes and holiday lets with so many now using loopholes to avoid paying council tax,” said Cllr Williams.

“A holiday home is a holiday home, something that pushes the prices of homes out of reach of local people,” he added, disputing the council’s own figures on the number of holiday homes.

“Officers tell us that the local percentage is lower than the average for Dwyfor, but we must remember there are 250 caravans in the parish."

But Cllr Eric Merfyn Jones was adamant that the local community council’s opposition should be given due consideration and agreed with members who had spoken against it.

His proposal that the plans should be refused on the basis there were too many similar developments in the area was supported by fellow members.

“There’s a difference between want and need, and I don’t feel there’s a need for this in the area,” he said. “If this were a full-time home, I may think differently, but I feel this would be opening the floodgates.

“Abersoch is an example of what can happen. Don’t let this happen here. I’m 100 per cent behind people who want somewhere to live, but I cannot support this application.”

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