New Dwelling - Site at The Lodge, Sladeway, Fishguard

An appeal by Fishguard resident Mr Dick Pepper for a dormer cottage in the garden of his Sladeway house has been allowed by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG).This followed three refusals of planning permission for residential development by the County Council.
Planning Inspector Mr Peter Horridge, who recently visited the site concluded in his report that a dwelling on the site would not adversely affect the character and appearance of the surroundings. Neither would it affect the living conditions of residents of nearby dwellings, many of whom had objected on a number of occasions to Mr Pepper's proposals. Previously applications had been on an outline basis only. On this occasion the site was fully  surveyed and a detailed scheme was presented to fit into the small plot.
Mr. Pepper's property is close to the centre of Fishguard thereby allowing ease of pedestrian or cycle access for residents to the town's main facilities. Mr Horridge fully concurred with significant factor stating that 'the proposal would make better use of land in a sustainable location close to town centre facilities.'
Planning consultant Andrew Vaughan-Harries of Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd who prepared Mr Peppers case, saw this as a particularly important decision in light of the recent government planning debate in England on the development of 'brownfield' or garden land. He felt it strengthened the need to allow the development of gardens in built up areas as land is a finite resource and garden development is a much more sustainable alternative to green field development and the loss of valuable agricultural land.