Neighbours' anger over 'alien structure' Airbnb

A luxury holiday let which was built without planning permission may be shut down over claims it is making life a "misery" for villagers.

Plas Coch Barn in Penisarwaun, Gwynedd, is a former outbuilding converted into a luxury holiday home with an 18ft (5.5m) window and was erected without planning permission.

The local council, Cyngor Gwynedd, has received complaints from neighbours about noisy occupants, and has promised to "monitor the situation", with an enforcement notice issued.

The owner of the property, Karl Jones, was approached for a comment.

Councillors on the planning committee refused to grant the site, which is marketed on websites such as Booking.com and Airbnb, retrospective planning permission in December.

Issues raised included loss of privacy due to large windows, increased traffic on the narrow lane, bright lights, noise from parties, use of a hot tub, an oversized window, privacy, loud music and littering.

Retired photographer Mick Sharp, who lives in the area, said he spoke for a number of neighbours who were just fed up with the disruption caused by some rowdy guests.

The council has now served an enforcement notice on the owner of the property, Mr Jones, over unauthorised work and he has until 2 April to appeal, after which it takes effect.

If uncontested, the barn must cease to be used as a short term holiday let and be reverted back to its "ancillary use" to the main house.

The order stated the windows on the eastern elevation would have to be removed and all window openings blocked up.

The order also states the local planning authority "does not consider that planning permission should be granted, as the development has an adverse detrimental effect on residential amenities and the windows in the eastern elevation cause over-looking and create an intrusive effect on neighbouring properties".

Mr Sharp said "issues have gone on since autumn 2022, when building work on the barn started".

"It just looks like some huge ocean liner all lit up in the night floating in the middle of the countryside. It's an alien structure, it bears no resemblance to the original barn," he added.

"We would just like the thing knocked down. We accept that not everyone who comes to stay is a nuisance but a lot that do just seem to like loud music and making a lot of noise in hot tubs."

He said the whole thing had been "a total nightmare" and residents hoped "this enforcement notice will actually be enforced".

A council spokesperson confirmed an enforcement notice had been served, "requiring steps to be undertaken to remedy the breach of planning control at the property" adding it would be "continuing to monitor the situation" from 2 April.