Ceredigion County Council will have to pay costs after its rejection of a plan for flats at an old school site in Lampeter was overturned on appeal.

Hacer Developments Ltd’s plan to demolish Ffynnonbedr Primary School to build social housing was refused by the development control committee in April, against officer recommendation.

The Planning Inspectorate overturned that decision earlier this month and has awarded full costs to the development company, with a figure yet to be agreed.

There was local opposition to the plan for demolition with the loss of the 19th century redbrick school having a negative impact on the area.

However, the school is not listed nor in a conservation area and could be demolished under permitted development rights.

Inspector Janine Townsley found that 20 affordable homes was of a suitable density but did add conditions relating to highways and parking when giving her approval to the application.

Hacer Developments Ltd basis of claim for costs was “the planning application was recommended for approval by council planning officers and members of the planning committee failed to correctly determine the application against the policies of the local Development Plan".

Mrs Townsley ruled that the committee “failed to establish that there were reasonable planning grounds” for taking a different view to officers nor was evidence to substantiate the reasons provided.

“This amounts to unreasonable behaviour which has led to the costs of pursuing an appeal,” added Mrs Townsley’s report.

Local member Cllr Hag Harris said of people he had spoken to there was “profound disappointment” and the feeling the opportunity for a redesigned plan with “mixed tenure” had been missed.

“Nobody ever felt that it wouldn’t be developed but the hope was to have a site that offered less dense accommodation and also a variety of accommodation,” he added.