Plans have been submitted to build 35 houses, 11 of them to be affordable homes, in Presteigne.

An outline planning application has been submitted to Powys County Council by farmers, Sid Williams and Son, to develop land at Broadaxe Farm, on the town’s outskirts.

The proposal is for a mixture of detached, semi-detached and terrace houses.

More details would need to be submitted if this application, which seeks the principle of development, is approved.

In July 2019, a pre-application consultation saw support for the application, although concerns arose about the size of the development and the pressure that the new housing could put on facilities in the town.

As part of the consultation, Powys County Councillor for Presteigne, Beverley Baynham, (Independent) said that her “preference” would be to see a smaller development on the site, suggesting it should be under 30 houses.

Presteigne and Norton Town Council discussed the proposal recently at their February meeting.

Town clerk, Tracey Price said the town council wanted to see a benefit for the town provided by the applicants.

She said: “The council was pleased to see the number of affordable dwellings included in the proposal.

“The council appreciates that this number of dwellings will increase the pressure on the town facilities and would ask that the consideration of some form of planning gain.”

Mrs Price added that the town council had no objection to the proposal but suggested there should be either a “green space” provided at the site or a payment towards other play areas in the town.

Geraint Jones, of McCartneys Planning, explained the plans in the Design and Access Statement (DAS).

He said: “As the application seeks only ‘outline planning approval’, full design details regarding the development details will be determined at a reserved matters stage.

“The site is capable of accommodating the number of dwellings proposed, together with the associated car parking and landscaping.

“The relevant policies at national and local level have been reviewed and are supportive of the proposal for outline application for residential development

“The proposal is an allocated site within the LDP (Local Development Plan) and has correctly followed the process of a pre-application consultation and pre-planning advice.

“We trust that officers are able to support this application.”