OPD scheme responds to criticism by Pembrokeshire councillor

The One Planet Development scheme, which allows zero carbon buildings to get planning permission, was criticised by Cllr Huw George last month.

Though there are strict rules governing what buildings can be given permission under the scheme, the councillor said there was not enough being done to make sure these were being stuck to.

But the One Planet Council, a voluntary organisation which promotes the OPD programme, refuted some of Cllr George’s criticisms of the scheme.

"There is a continuing and inaccurate stereotype that OPD houses are 'hobbit houses' built by 'incomers'.

“Many One Planet Development homes (though not all) look very normal in appearance, and many (though not all) are built by local Welsh-speaking Welsh people in or returning to their local area," said a spokesman for the OPC.

The spokesman added the OPC hoped to see more of the applications in the future, due to the effects of climate change and ecological disruption.

Cllr George had criticised the scheme for a perceived advantage it gave to some hopeful builders over farming families in his ward and said its wide-ranging nature meant that monitoring the houses was difficult.

Speaking at the end of April, he added a moratorium needed to be placed on the OPD so Welsh Government could investigate.

The spokesman for the OPD agreed that monitoring was important and added “that failure to submit annual monitoring reports is a breach of planning condition.”

There has been a total of 24 OPD applications approved in Wales since the scheme started in 2010.

Out of the 13 applications in Pembrokeshire, five have were approved and three were granted permission on appeal.

In other areas of Wales there have been less of the OPD applications, with four in Ceredigion, three in Carmarthenshire and two in Powys.

The full OPC response can be found at oneplanetcouncil.org.uk/opc-responds-to-pembrokeshire-councillor-concerns