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Caulmert Limited Engineering, Environmental & Planning Consultancy Services RHEILFFORDD LLYN TEGID LTD. FULL PLANNING APPLICATION (AND LISTED BUILDING APPLICATION) FOR THE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF BALA LAKE NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY COMPRISING OF 1200M OF RAILWAY, LEVEL CROSSING AND ERECTION OF STATION AND ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENT. LAND AT LLYN TEGID, BALA, GWYNEDD SUPPORTING PLANNING STATEMENT Prepared by: Caulmert Limited Intec, Parc Menai, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 4FG Email: [email protected] Web: www.caulmert.com Doc ref: 4369-CAU-XX-XX-RP-T-0305.A0.C1 July 2021 Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Ltd Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Extension Planning Supporting Statement APPROVAL RECORD Site: Land at Llyn Tegid, Bala, Gwynedd Client: Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Ltd. Project Title: Full Planning Application (and Listed Building Application) for the Proposed Extension of Bala Lake Narrow Gauge Railway comprising of 1200m of railway, level crossing and erection of Station and Associated Development. Document Title: Supporting Planning Statement Document Ref: 4369-CAU-XX-XX-RP-T-0305.A0.C1 Report Status: PRE-APPLICATION CONSULTATION DRAFT Project Director: Howard Jones Project Manager: Neil Foxall Caulmert Limited: Intec, Parc Menai, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 4FG Telephone: 01248-672666 Neil Arbon MRTPI Author Date July 2021 Associate Director of Planning Neil Foxall (BA) Hons MCD MRTPI Reviewer Date July 2021 Associate Director of Planning Neil Foxall (BA) Hons MCD MRTPI Approved Date July 2021 Associate Director of Planning DISCLAIMER This report has been prepared by Caulmert Limited with reasonable skill, care and diligence, in accordance with the instruction of the above named client and within the terms and conditions of the Contract with the Client. The report is for the sole use of the above named Client and Caulmert Limited shall not be held responsible for any use of the report or its content for any purpose other than that for which it was prepared and provided to the Client. Caulmert Limited accepts no responsibility of whatever nature to any third parties who may have been made aware of or have acted in the knowledge of the report or its contents. No part of this document may be copied or reproduced without the prior written approval of Caulmert Limited. Caulmert Ltd 4369-CAU-XX-XX-RP-T-0305.A0.C1 July 2021 Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Ltd Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Extension Planning Supporting Statement TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE NO. 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 The Application ........................................................................................................ 1 1.2 The Applicant ........................................................................................................... 1 2.0 THE APPLICATION SITE ......................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Location ................................................................................................................... 3 3.0 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ........................................................................................... 8 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 8 4.0 PLANNING POLICY .............................................................................................................. 11 6.0 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................... 31 Caulmert Ltd 4369-CAU-XX-XX-RP-T-0305.A0.C1 July 2021 Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Ltd Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Extension Planning Supporting Statement 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 The Application 1.1.1 Caulmert Ltd has been appointed by Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Ltd (“the applicant”) to submit an application for full planning permission to Snowdonia National Park Authority for the proposed extension of an existing railway from the present terminus at Pen y Bont into Bala Town, covering a distance of 1200 metres. 1.1.2 This planning application is accompanied by and should be read in conjunction with the submitted documentation and drawings. 1.2 The Applicant 1.2.1 Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid/Bala Lake Railway (BLR) first ran trains from Llanuwchllyn in 1972, running initially over 1.5 miles to Pentrepiod. The route was extended over a number of years, reaching its’ present terminus at Pen y Bont in 1976. Reaching the town centre has been a long-held ambition of the railway company. 1.2.2 The creation of the Bala Lake Railway Trust (BLRT) in 2013 which has assembled a team of Trustees with the right skills to deliver the project together with a tax-efficient and accountable vehicle to receive donations has enabled the project to develop. 1.2.3 Key members of the Bala Lake Railway Trust include; Julian Birley BEM Julian has been involved with railway preservation as a volunteer for over twenty years, initially with the North Norfolk Railway and subsequently all over the UK. He was Transport Trust Preservationist of the Year in 2002 and awarded the British Empire Medal in 2015 for services to railway heritage. Christina Kennedy Christina has a Masters Degree in Business Administration and was a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries. She worked at Board level, acting as Company Secretary in a variety of listed companies. Her industry experience is wide ranging and includes manufacturing, leisure and service companies. Steve Davies MBE Steve is a former Colonel in the British Army and lifelong railway enthusiast who has been involved in a significant number of heritage railway projects both on a professional and voluntary basis. On retirement from the Army he served as Director of the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, and also in the same role at the National Railway Museum. His past experience also includes the role of Managing Director of Surf Snowdonia in Dolgarrog Toby Watkins Caulmert Ltd 4369-CAU-XX-XX-RP-T-0305.A0.C1 1 July 2021 Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Ltd Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Extension Planning Supporting Statement Toby has been an active railway volunteer for over 30 years with an academic background in history (MA) and heritage conservation (MSc) that helps give context to the work of the Trust. His 'day job' has given him an extensive experience with management of large infrastructure as well as extensive experience in community development and engagement. Roger Hine After moving to Wales in 1985, Roger established his own business before he started to volunteer at the Bala Lake Railway. In 1991 has was offered the post of Chief Engineer at the Railway and became the General Manager in 2001 with responsibility for all the commercial activities until retiring in 2014. Caulmert Ltd 4369-CAU-XX-XX-RP-T-0305.A0.C1 2 July 2021 Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Ltd Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Extension Planning Supporting Statement 2.0 THE APPLICATION SITE 2.1 Location 2.1.1 Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake Railway) currently offers a 4.5 mile/ 7.2km long, 2’/ 600mm gauge heritage railway which has run between Llanuwchllyn and Pen y Bont since 1976. The narrow gauge steam trains give excellent views of the lake amid its surrounding scenery including the nearby mountains of Arenig Fawr, Aran Benllyn and Aran Fawddwy. 2.1.2 The application site is located on the southern side of the settlement of Bala. Llyn Tegid also forms a notable feature, bordering the site to the south west and stretching some near 6km south west. 2.1.3 The application site comprises of existing highway, land which will form NRW proposed embankment works, margins of the Bala Rugby Club fields together with agricultural land. The location of the site is shown on Plan Ref ‘4267-CAU-XX-XX-DR-C-1804 and on Figure 1 below. Figure 1 – Site Location Caulmert Ltd 4369-CAU-XX-XX-RP-T-0305.A0.C1 3 July 2021 Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Ltd Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Extension Planning Supporting Statement 2.2 The Surrounding Area 2.2.1 Residential properties are at either end of the proposed extension; at Pen y Bont there is a single dwelling (Lake Cottage) in close proximity to the existing station terminal towards the North West. Towards to the south east of the existing station there is a further property (Pen y Bont Farmhouse) along with Pen y Bont Touring Caravan Park. 2.2.2 To the north of proposed railway line, including the new Heol Aran Station, there are a number of properties starting from Tegid Street through to Aran Street. This is also the heart of Bala Town Centre which comprises of shops, tourist facilities and general local amenities. 2.2.3 The proposed railway line also utilises margins are the existing Bala Rugby Club fields. 2.3 Site Access 2.3.1 The proposed site is well connected by the existing highway network including access from A494 and B4391 which will both serve as access to the proposed Station at Heol Aran Station for traffic from the North and South. 2.3.2 There are two existing car parks within Bala which could be utilised by cars; Plasey Street and The Green. The Plasey Street car park is located immediately opposite to the proposed new station site off Heol Aran and therefore will provide the most convenient location for visitors to the proposed station to park. The Green car park contains facilities for coaches and thereby could be used when organised coach party visits are made to the proposed station. An assessment using Google Maps is reproduced below which confirms The Green coach park is 0.4 miles