The largest residential housing planning application ever submitted in Lampeter has been thrown out by county planners.

Opponents of the controversial outline application for 95 houses and a new road at Maesyderi claimed it would lead to a 10 per cent growth in the size of the town.

The private development would have included up to 18 units of affordable and possibly social housing. But at a well-attended public meeting councillors maintained that the development would be too large.

They also expressed concerns about traffic issues at both Maesyderi and Bryn Steffan and a lack of amenities and play areas in the plans.

In addition, it was felt that the application lodged by Cardiff-based consultants Geraint John Planning Ltd would use up nearly all of the capacity for development over the Local Development Plan period, giving a monopoly to one developer.

On Thursday it emerged that the application, lodged by US-based David Evans, his cousin Dai Charles Evans, and his wife, had been rejected by the local authority.

Reasons given were concerns over access, insufficient information on proposed affordable housing and that the scheme was felt to be contrary to the Local Development Plan.

Giving his reaction, local county councillor Hag Harris said many residents were “greatly relieved” that the application had been rejected.

“I was informed last by the case officer that the applicant could not demonstrate that they had ownership or control of the proposed access from Bryn Steffan and that the access proposed from Maesyderi was not sufficient,” he told the Cambrian News.

“This had been one of the main concerns of myself and my colleagues on the town council at the consultation stage of the application.

“There was also insufficient information in relation to open space provision and also how the development would be staged.”

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