An application to turn an outbuilding into an affordable house has been approved, but subject to receiving a report on the affordability of the home.

The plan to convert Caerau at Llangwnnadl, Pwllheli, was discussed at length by Gwynedd Council’s planning committee on Monday, 10 January.

The applicant, Catrin Williams, said she was raised in Llangwnnadl and wants to continue to live there, but cannot afford a property in the area.

“It’s difficult for me to find a way to stay without converting the old house we have on our land,” Catrin, 28, told the committee.

“It’s a shame it’s so difficult for a local person to be able to convert a house on family land.”

Cllr Gareth Williams said although it would be easier and cheaper to demolish the building, which had been used as a house in the past, the family is determined to rebuild it and keep the character.

“This would be a perfect home for a young person to live independently and start a family one day,” he said.

“This is an application before you is from a young girl to realise her dream of living at home in her native area.

“Catrin is fortunate this opportunity is available to her and that her father who is a builder is willing to support her with this dream. Without this opportunity it’s unlikely, if not impossible, for Catrin to be able to live in Llangwnnadl and raise a family as house prices in the area are out of her reach.

“Catrin accepts and addresses the fact there would be a need to have an affordable housing condition but there is no intention to try to sell the house for a profit in the future as it is located on the family land. As you will know we are in a housing crisis, and it is more or less impossible to buy affordable housing here. I feel there is a duty on us to support applications such as this and a duty to support our local young people, not stand against them.”

Cllr Owain Williams said: “As we’ve heard from the applicant, a young girl from the area who spoke honestly about her wish, and as the local member has pointed out, this isn’t a hut or a shed or a pigsty.

“It was a home up until about 50 or 60 years ago, a comparatively short time in most of our histories, and, therefore, we’re talking about renovating a house to become a home during a crisis.

“The shortage of houses is serious. We are losing our young people. I can’t emphasise enough the importance of applications like this. I would urge my fellow members to approve this application.”

Cllr Simon Glyn said: “We need to make sure our local communities continue and the only way we can do that is to look for this sort of building and I’d like to congratulate the applicant for turning every stone and having done her best to look for a way to stay in the local area. It would be of use to the local economy if this applicant had the right to live in her local area.

“They would have a full-time job and possibly have a family with children going to local schools. What better way of sustaining the local economy than local people living in local communities.”

“I can’t see how we can refuse this application.”

However, the condition of the building and the fact it has been empty for a long time, means legally it cannot be classed as a house.

Cllr Anne Lloyd-Jones said she would like the building to be renovated, but similar applications had been refused in line with Gwynedd Council policies and perhaps they need looking at.

It was resolved to approve, subject to receiving a further report on the affordability of the house.