The dream of two Llyn couples to build houses in their home village has been given a welcome boost after councillors ignored professional advice to grant approval.

Monday’s planning committee meeting heard an application to build two detached homes at Drws y Llan, Llanengan with the prospective occupants both having strong links to the village.

According to the applicants, the high house prices in the area meant that building a house of their own was “the only option” to live in the village and become part of the community.

A two-bedroom cottage in Llanengan is marketed for sale at £285,000 with a chapel house recently sold for £255,000.

Meanwhile the cheapest three-bedroom houses in Abersoch and nearby Mynytho are on the market for £395,000 and £299,500 respectively.

Meanwhile, as the applicants of both proposed houses worked in the construction field, it was considered it would be possible to construct the homes for a maximum of between £70,000 and £90,000.

But council officers recommended refusal, citing five separate policies that would be broken if given the go-ahead. These induced their size, which would be larger than designated ‘affordable’ housing, concerns over location, and bio-diversity issues due to the likelihood of species of reptiles being on-site.

But Nia Ferris, a local headteacher and one of the applicants, urged members to support them in their bid to continue living in the area in which they were brought up.

“I feel that its vital that young people, like myself, are given an opportunity to raise a family in the community we were born and to ensure that the Welsh speaking community flourishes and does not decline further.

“House prices in Llanengan are extremely high, and we feel that our only option is to build a house of our own.”

However, as members voted against the recommendation, the item will be presented once again for a final decision when the committee meets on 22 July following a “cooling off” period.

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