EXTRA homes will be built in a village near Llangrannog but permission has been granted on the condition work starts within 12 months.

Two of five houses planned for Pontgarreg will be affordable homes and it was the need for such properties that led to Cllr Lyndon Lloyd proposing to go against officer recommendation and grant approval.

Cllr Lloyd said that the local community wanted affordable housing.

He was backed by Cllr Maldwyn Lewis who said that he felt “strongly” that there needed to be a “mix of housing.”

“The village is in an excellent location for development, it has resources, a school. I feel strongly that we must have modern housing, energy efficient housing.

“In Pontgarreg the proportion of old housing is high and I feel we need to renew the housing stock in the village.”

The application had been deferred to the meeting on May 8 for a site inspection panel visit where those attending backed the officer recommendation for refusal.

Llangrannog Community Council and six residents had objected to the plan on grounds including a lack of need for more housing and traffic impacts.

The outline application is for three open market units and two affordable homes in a field next to the existing residential estate at Heol y Garreg, with the current access road used for the new houses.

Members of Ceredigion County Council’s development control committee voted to go against officer recommendation and approve the plan.