CROSS HANDS PLANS WITHDRAWN FROM COMMITTEE

Two proposals for retail development at Cross Hands due to be considered by Carmarthenshire planning committee today have been withdrawn by officers at the start of the meeting in order to consider a late objection and newly released case law.

The planning committee was due to discuss an application by Conygar Cross Hands Ltd for a retail park on land at Cross Hands West which had already been deferred from a previous meeting after a last minute intervention by the Co-op.

Conygar’s plans are for where Sainsbury’s had previously planned to build a supermarket. Permission for a supermarket and petrol station already exists.

The committee was also due to consider an application by Leekes for a shop unit alongside the Leekes store in Heol Stanllyd, Cross Hands, but this has been challenged by Conygar.

Council Head of Planning Llinos Quelch said: “A late challenge has been received this week from Conygar with regards to the Leekes application and whether their assessment of alternative sites was flawed. The challenge references case law released in the last week or so. Further assessment is necessary and therefore deferral is required and the application has been withdrawn from the agenda today.

“The late challenge has also raised questions around the Conygar application itself and their assessment of alternative sites and as such the local planning authority is not in a position today to confirm that the assessment is robust and will need to revisit the evidence submitted.  Again deferral is required and the application has been withdrawn from today’s agenda.”