A BUILDER has been accused of damaging the “special qualities” of the Snowdonia National Park.

An inspector from the Welsh Government’s planning inspectorate has rejected two appeals by the owner of a mid-19th century cottage in Llanuwchllyn.

Ty’n y Ffridd is a single-storey stone cottage in the heart of Wales’ biggest national park.

Due to its special architectural features, the traditional materials used in its construction, and the fact that it is a single-storey dwelling with an attached byre which is uncommon in this part of Snowdonia, the cottage is a Grade II-listed building.

In 2007, Listed Building Consent and planning permission were given to the owner of Ty’n y Ffridd to build an extension and to convert the byre to provide more accommodation.

However, according to inspector James Ellis, the completed work on the property is “very different” from the originally approved plans which has consequently adversely affected the character of the listed building.

In July 2015, Snowdonia National Park Authority presented an enf­orcement notice to the owner of Ty’n y Ffridd.

According to a Snowdonia National Park spokesperson, there were several breaches of contract including the dry stone walls and the byre which had been demolished, the ext­ension was nearly twice the length of the original cottage, unsuitable stones were used for the extension, a porch was added which was incompatible with the rest of the cottage, the old traditional windows had been replaced by modern windows, the original red chimney pot was rep­laced by a black and metal chimney pot and roof details had also been changed.

In addition, a concrete block wall structure was built for installing an oil tank, significant excavation work was carried out as well as a retaining wall being built without planning permission.

Summing up, the inspector said that the work carried out on the byre and the extension has “seriously damaged the special historic and architectural interest of the listed building”.

He upheld the requirements of the enforcement notice and noted that the owner would have to remove the extension, remove the porch and install natural Welsh slate above the front door, replace the windows with traditional windows, replace the chimney pot, change the details of the roof, rebuild the byre exactly the same size as the original byre, rebuild the dry stone walls, remove the retaining wall, refill the excavated land to its previous levels and remove the concrete block wall and oil tank.

Snowdonia National Park Authority planning officer Iona Thomas added: “Some buildings in Snowdonia, such as this building in Llanuwchllyn, are listed for a special reason.

“The original architectural features at Ty’n y Ffridd were an important historical record of agricultural life and lifestyle in the 19th century.

“In disposing of these features, along with carrying out unauthorised construction work, one of the special qualities of the national park has been unnecessarily and completely damaged.”

The owner of Ty’n y Ffridd, Arthur Wyn Roberts, has two years to comply with the enforcement notice.

At the time of going to press, the Cambrian News was unable to contact Mr Roberts for a response.