A planning application to expand a caravan park in Gwynedd has been refused after officials discovered the site lacked valid planning permission to operate.
The application, lodged by John Evans of Evans Caravan & Camping Ltd, proposed the expansion of Berth Ddu caravan park near Abersoch to accommodate 15 touring caravans.
However, during the planning review, it was determined that the site, located at Bwlchtocyn, had previously operated under an exemption certificate allowing only five caravans, and that certificate had since expired.
The matter was brought before Cyngor Gwynedd’s planning committee on Monday, July 14, where officials assessed the application as a proposal for a new development rather than an extension of an existing, legally approved site.
Planning officer Sian Dafydd stated during the meeting, “It does not appear that any planning permission exists for the caravans on the site.”
She noted that although a Caravan and Motorhome Club certified venue sign was displayed at the location, inquiries confirmed that the exemption certificate was no longer valid.
The site, which currently hosts seven caravans—two more than previously permitted—falls within both the Llŷn Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Llŷn and Enlli Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest.
The land was also classified as “Class II good quality agricultural land,” a category identified as among the “best and most versatile” and typically prioritized for agricultural preservation.
Planning officials expressed concern that the development could negatively impact the visual landscape and contravene local policy designed to protect these areas.
While the applicant proposed landscape screening, planners judged that it would take years to become effective and doubted its short-term impact.
The AONB Unit raised additional concerns, noting that the Sarn Bach/Bwlchtocyn area already faced “a substantial number of touring caravans,” which were placing “pressure on the AONB and local environment and services.”
Campaigners for Welsh countryside preservation also submitted objections to the development, according to the North Wales Chronicle.
While a report acknowledged that the site could make a “positive contribution to the local economy, additional employment for locals and help support and sustain local shops, pubs and cafes,” planners ultimately decided the visual and environmental concerns outweighed the potential economic benefits.
Dafydd noted there was “a lack of evidence submitted” to show the applicant had given “full consideration” to the impact of losing high-grade agricultural land.
Cllr Edgar Wyn Owen remarked on the lack of compliance and the nature of the proposal.
“It stands out, there was an agreement for five caravans previously. There were seven there, so there were two which should not have been there, and there’s no agreement now. So, they are asking for a new caravan place really. I am against it.”
The case highlights the importance for site operators and developers in the outdoor hospitality sector to maintain up-to-date permissions and adhere to land use classifications.
Business owners looking to expand or establish new facilities—particularly in designated conservation zones—must ensure their applications meet local planning policies, including thorough consideration of land designation and visual impact mitigation.