A caravan park has failed in its bid to overturn refusal of 24 chalets in a popular North Wales holiday hotspot.

Proposals to install the static structures at the Golden Sunset Caravan Park in Benllech, Anglesey, were refused in 2019 due to the visual impact it would have.

The applicants lodged an appeal with Welsh Government appointed inspectors believing that replacing what are currently two existing touring caravan fields with a “high quality well designed scheme,” would reduce the prominence of caravans and enhance the site.

The two fields in question can only accommodate touring caravans between April 1 and October 31 every year, with the application seeking to allow the chalets to remain there all year round.

But this week the planning inspectorate revealed it was upholding Anglesey Council’s refusal, with the local authority believing the development to fall foul of the Joint Local Development Plan (JLDP) and would result in “a detrimental permanent visual impact on the landscape character of the locale” including the coastline and nearby Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Planning officers also believed that the 24 chalets would “conflict with the surrounding landscape character” and that no justification had been presented on why it should be excepted from the JLDP.

The plans had also been opposed by local councillors, with Ieuan Williams writing to the planning inspectorate urging them to uphold the council’s decision.

Cllr Williams claimed Benllech has already reached “saturation point”, citing a number of holiday developments which have already been awarded planning permission or are currently under construction within a 1.5 mile radius – including 20 homes, 36 chalets and six glamping pods.

“On busy weekends through the summer the square can become gridlocked. There is a pub, coffee shop, deli, Indian takeaway, small cafe, two fish and chip shops and a Tesco Express on the square.

“Unfortunately visitors and locals do not travel to these shops in a sustainable manner, they come by car.”

The developers argued that the plans would represent an improvement on the site’s current use as a touring caravan site, for which they say there are no controls over siting or length of stay.

“The proposal would provide higher quality holiday units on a site which is within walking distance of all facilities in Benllech, leading to increased economic activity throughout the year,” they added.

“Through delivering this scheme which includes landscaping proposals and a defined location for the units and introducing carefully selected coloured caravans, the current visual impact of the touring caravans and tents will be mitigated, and this will lead to an overall landscape enhancement.”

But falling on the side of councillors, planning inspector Vicki Hirst concluded in her report: “The provision of 24 static caravans with their associated decking and stoned parking areas would result in a permanent change to the visual character of the appeal site.

“Given the transient and temporary nature of the existing use, I do not find the benefits of removing the existing seasonal use of the site for touring caravans and camping justifies the proposed development and the related permanent effects to the landscape.”