POWYS County Council (PCC) has been given three more years to build 45 homes at Churchstoke.

On Thursday, January 16, PCC’s planning committee gave the authority an extension to consent given to an outline planning application it had seen three years ago.

In January 2017, the planning committee granted an outline planning consent to build the homes on 1.7 hectares of land next to Fir House in Churchstoke.

The land is between the village and the site of the former Harry Tuffin’s shopping centre.

The land is owned by PCC and it said it needs the extra time so that it can submit a reserved matters application.

This would give the planning officers and committee more detail on what type of development could be built there.

Principal planning officer Tamsin Law explained: “The application has been consulted upon and there were no objections to the additional time to allow the submission of reserved matters.

“Also, since the application was approved we’ve had the LDP (Local Development Plan) adopted and this site has been allocated within it for 36 houses, which is the minimum level.

“The application is 45 and we’re content that the increase in density is acceptable and will allow provision for affordable housing as well.”

The development would need to have new adoptable roads providing access as well as surface water and foul drainage provision.

According to the report 20 per cent (nine houses) would be affordable and the consent includes a whopping 37 conditions.

It includes one that would give Churchstoke Community Council a contribution for recreational facilities.

Cllr Michael J Jones (Independent – Churchstoke) who proposed the application, said: “Obviously this application is in my ward.

“I have no objection whatsoever, I am just surprised the county council have just not,  got on with it as they wanted to sell the houses on the site.”

The application was seconded by Cllr David Price (Independent – Llanafanfawr) and was approved unanimously.