Welsh singer-songwriter Charlotte Church's vision of opening a retreat called The Dreaming at Rhydoldog House has become a reality having now achieved full planning permission. Cardiff-born Charlotte fell in love with the Elan Valley property and its surrounding land that includes ancient woodland that was once the home of renown Welsh fashion and interior designer Laura Ashley.
She purchased the property, near Rhyadar, Powys, in 2020. But instead of making it her home Charlotte envisaged the site having a full renovation and becoming a retreat and wellness centre for small groups of people with the result that the property required change of use planning permission from Powys County Council.
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The planning application, submitted in November 2021, requested "a change of use of dwelling (C3) to a D1 (wellbeing and healing retreat), conversion of part of barn to artist's studio and store, installation of solar arrays and all associated works". At that time there was also a planning application for a proposed development of four log cabins, a bath house, and associated works but this was withdrawn in September 2022.
One of the challenges of achieving change of use planning consent was concerns about road access raised by the council's highways department regarding passing places on the C1219 plus improvements to the junction of this access road with the B4518. At a council meeting earlier this month proposed plans to alleviate these concerns were discussed.
The Highway Authority concluded that on balance the submission included sufficient mitigation including the construction of passing places and improvement of signage at the junction to offset the detrimental effects of the increased development traffic and that an objection on highway grounds could not not be sustained. It was therefore considered that the effect on highway safety was acceptable.
The approved planning also comes with the condition attached "to provide 10% of the parking spaces to have electric vehicle charging points as required by Policy 12 of Future Wales". The other area of the development that required more work was the sewage proposals and this delayed a full planning consent decision at that meeting on December 1. The unanimous vote of councillors at the planning meeting was to allow conditional planning consent for the wellness centre "subject to confirmation from Natural Resources Wales of agreement with the appropriate assessment" regarding waste and sustainable drainage.
Only then could the committee chairman councillor Karl Lewis, vice-chairman councillor Gareth D Jones, and planning professional lead Peter Morris conclude their deliberations and give the project a full green light. On December 19 the news that Charlotte and her team have been waiting to hear was published on the council's online planning hub as full planning permission was approved for the wellness retreat, conversion of part of the barn, and installation of solar arrays.
The consent is subject to certain conditions that include a maintenance and management plan for the approved foul water drainage system (including the reedbed) shall be submitted to the local planning authority in writing to guarantee the maintenance of the reedbed is not accidentally overlooked. See inside Rhydoldog House and the unique interior design ideas Charlotte has brought to the property here.
Full details of the planning approval and conditions attached can be viewed on Powys County Council's planning hub. The journey of Charlotte's epic renovation can be streamed via discovery+. And don't miss the best dream homes in Wales, auction properties, renovation stories, and interiors – join the Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter which is sent to your inbox twice a week.
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