Contentious plans to build affordable homes in a coastal village have been approved only thanks to the casting vote of Anglesey Council’s Planning Committee chair.

Clwyd Alyn housing had applied to build the 17 homes near Craig y Don and Cherry Tree Close in Benllech, where the average property price is nearly £250,000.

But despite the housing association citing the need for such housing, claims that it represented “over-development” saw planning committee members refuse the application when first asked to make a decision in February.

When voting against the advice of planning officers, however, the scenario sees committee members forced to reconsider their initial decision after a month’s “cooling off” period.

Wednesday’s subsequent U-turn saw the plans approved by the narrowest of margins after promises were made it would help protect the majority of the site going forward.

One of the local councillors, Ieuan Williams, noted there were as many as 11 “more suitable” candidate sites in Benllech, urging members to consider the environmental impact and pointing to its location within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and local wildlife zone.

Noting that she was principally in favour of affordable housing, fellow Lligwy councillor Margaret Murley Roberts described the site as “wetland outside of Benllech’s development boundary”, and the plans as “simply not a good idea”.

Speaking earlier this year, she said: “Over development and traffic issues are already problems in the village and the feeling is that this is simply one development too many.

“With other housing developments already approved, there are only 11 spaces left in the village primary school. It will be full even before this would be built.

“At present it seems that discussions are taking place in silos. If you know the school is full, why build more houses?!

“Moelfre is only four miles away and there’s a desperate lack of affordable housing there.

“Local people can’t afford to buy as they’re all snapped up as holiday homes. People born and raised here have no chance. Yes, we we need affordable houses, but in the right places.

“I’m scared that a lack of joined up thinking will just store up problems for the future.”

According to the applicants, the development would include a mix of two, three and four bedrooms, “100% affordable, owned and operated by Clwyd Alyn Housing under a tenure neutral arrangement.”

They also argued that due to house prices being what they are  – with the cheapest two bedroom flat in Benllech said to be listed at £189,000 – new builds are the only financially viable option, with a “proven need” for up to 69 affordable homes in the village.

But planning officers noted that approving the plans with an accompanied management plan may be the only way of protecting the site in future, noting it was currently “deteriorating”.

“The plans would mean losing 13% of the site, the worst part, in order to implement a management plan for the reminder to secure its future,” said planning officer Nia Jones.

“Otherwise, the planning authority has no powers to enforce upkeep so this is an opportunity to sacrifice some of the site to protect the remainder.”

After members were deadlocked at five votes apiece, the casting vote of planning committee chair Nicola Roberts saw the application narrowly approved.