The application seeks consent for change of use of land for the creation of a temporary off-site living accommodation facility for workers associated with the Eryri VIP project, alterations to existing vehicular access, creation of an internal access road, erection of a temporary associated service/welfare building together with associated works on land at Blaen Cefn, Penrhyndeudraeth.

The site lies principally within the Eryri National Park Authority, with the proposed vehicular access point from the A487 located within the administrative area of Cyngor Gwynedd. In light of this, a planning application will be submitted to Cyngor Gwynedd to seek consent for alterations to the existing vehicular access, alongside an application to Eryri National Park Authority in relation to the change of use of land to create a temporary living accommodation facility for workers.

 

Planning permission for the Eryri VIP project has been granted to reduce the visual impact of National Grid’s overhead line across the Dwyryd Estuary from Minffordd to Llandecwyn. This would be achieved through the removal of a section of this overhead line and replace it with electricity cables buried in a tunnel underground.

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The proposed development is required in order to ensure suitable and sufficient accommodation is available for workers associated with the Eryri VIP during tourist seasons as well as through the winters. The workers that would be accommodated at the site would be non-home-based workers, mainly undertaking specialist work. The facility would provide temporary accommodation for up to 100 workers and is expected to be operational between April 2024 and December 2025.

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An extensive search for a suitable site to house the temporary accommodation for workers has been undertaken by the applicant, principally considering sites in the Porthmadog and Penrhyndeudreath area, given the need to be close to the main construction sites at Garth and Llandecwyn. Sites within Cyngor Gwynedd and outside the Eryri National Park were initially viewed as preferable with a preference for previously developed land to align with the principles of sustainable development set out within national planning policy.

 

A number of sites were discounted due to flood risk issues. Allocated housing sites in Penrhyndeudraeth were considered but a combination of lack of willingness to bring the sites forward for temporary accommodation, topographic and drainage constraints led to the sites being dismissed as suitable for the proposed workers accommodation. A site further afield at Blaenau Ffestiniog was considered, although being outside the initially preferrable travel to work distance. A combination of distance from the main construction sites and confirmation from the landowner that the site was not available led to its dismissal.

 

In the absence of suitable alternatives, the site at Blaen Cefn has been selected as the preferred workers accommodation site and now forms the subject of this Statutory Pre-Application Consultation process.

The application is accompanied by ecological surveys, a Transport Statement, Drainage Strategy and Community and Linguistic Impact Assessment which considers the potential effects of the proposed development.

Whilst the proposal is a departure from the policies within the adopted development plan, however, the proposal would be temporary in nature and is required in order to support the Eryri VIP project which will assist to deliver a major opportunity to conserve and enhance the special qualities and natural beauty, wildlife and environmental heritage of the Eryri National Park.