A man whose hopes of living off the land in a One Planet Development were dashed by Carmarthenshire councillors has won a planning appeal and will also be awarded costs. The inspector who ruled in applicant Stephen Morris's favour said the council behaved unreasonably when its planning committee voted against a recommendation by officers to approve the project.
Mr Morris had applied for planning permission under Wales's One Planet Development policy, which allows people to build in areas where permission would normally be denied but only if they can make a living from the land. He wanted to live on three acres of land at Penybanc, near Llandeilo, with his partner and child. There they would live in a single-storey timber clad home and grow fruit and veg, willow, produce honey, rear chickens and ducks, and create a wildflower meadow. Music therapy sessions and guided hiking trips were also planned.
Such developments must have a light touch on the land, and provide for 65% of the occupants' food needs - although 35% of them can be bought with income derived from the land - within five years. You can get more Carmarthenshire news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
