Uefa says it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s Fifa leadership as the fallout from the scrapped controversial investment plan intensifies.

On Saturday, Infantino said Fifa would no longer proceed with the proposal to sell stakes in the governing body’s competitions to private investors.

Uefa – which governs European football – had earlier voted to boycott World Cups if the plans went ahead, and other governing bodies also voiced their opposition.

In a lengthy statement on Saturday, Uefa said it welcomed the decision to withdraw the plan, describing it as “a victory for the whole game”.

It also accused Infantino of failing to deliver on promises, quoting a speech he gave when campaigning to become Fifa president in 2016.

“The current Fifa leadership has not only lost Uefa’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family,” the statement read.

“When Gianni Infantino asked for the trust and the votes of Fifa’s member associations to elect him as their president in 2016, he said: ‘Of course we have to be transparent.’

“He told the assembled stakeholders: ‘The money of Fifa is your money. It’s not the money of the Fifa president. You are the national associations and the money of Fifa has to serve for the development of football and not for anything else.’

“On both these promises, he has failed to deliver. The shabby, back room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through were anything but transparent.”

Freely viewers now have more options to explore as the new channels have gone live on the platform.

The streaming service, which delivers live TV over broadband without the need for an aerial or satellite dish, has added its biggest single batch of channels since Warner Bros. Discovery brought its free-to-air portfolio across at the start of the year.

New content includes a mix of true crime, police shows, medical documentaries, made-for-TV thrillers, and a dedicated channel for children.

What is Freely?

Freely is operated by Everyone TV, the same organisation behind Freeview and Freesat.

It brings together channels from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and others in a single guide, with built-in seven-day catch-up.

According to Everyone TV, the platform reached two million monthly active users in July.

This figure doubled from around one million in December and 500,000 in September.

Freely launched in April 2024 and was initially only available on smart TVs from brands such as Hisense, Panasonic, Toshiba, and Sharp.

In November 2025, the first standalone Freely box was released, expanding access to more households.

Freely adds 11 new channels to TV guide

Here are the 11 new channels added:

• 5Cops – Channel 69
• 5Police Interceptors – Channel 70
• 5Movies – Channel 77
• 5A&E – Channel 84
• 5Crime – Channel 85
• 5Medical – Channel 107
• 5Yorkshire Vet – Channel 108
• 5Bargain-Loving Brits – Channel 118
• 5Trucking Hell – Channel 119
• 5History – Channel 128
• Milkshake! – Channel 360

5Movies, 5Medical, 5Yorkshire Vet, 5History and Milkshake! are exclusive to Freely at launch, with them unavailable on Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media and others.

However, all 11 channels are available on 5 Streaming, the broadcaster’s own service.

There have been 11 new channels added to the Freely guide in the new update (Image: Getty Images)

The channels were already available on Freely devices through the 5 app; however, they are now in the Freely EPG (electronic programme guide).

Virgin and Samsung TVs get new free channels

The addition of the new Freely channels is not the only new ones UK TVs have received in recent months.

Virgin TV recently launched two brand-new 24/7 channels, 8 out of 10 Cats (150) and Pointless (251).

Both are available to stream to all Virgin TV360 and Stream customers, directly from their set-top box.

Millions of Samsung smart TVs have also received a free upgrade recently.

The new offerings are part of Samsung TV Plus, a free streaming service integrated into Samsung smart TVs and selected Galaxy devices.

Wrestling enthusiasts can now enjoy Wrestling Legends TV, a channel dedicated to WWE programming and behind-the-scenes content, accessible on channel 4613.

Eurovision Sport was launched on channel 4611, providing Olympic sports coverage, highlights, and documentaries at no extra cost.

Additionally, fans of Korean dramas can tune into new channels from Series K on channels 4254 and 4259, offering a variety of box sets and shows.

Recommended reading:

Football supporters were not left out, as a Bundesliga channel is currently showing live matches and highlights on channel 4003 during a promotional period.

Samsung’s free streaming service is available on all Samsung Smart TVs from 2016 onwards and Samsung Galaxy Devices: Mobile & Tablet – Android 11.0 or higher.

You can watch free TV without a Samsung account, but creating one unlocks extra features.

What is your favourite TV channel to watch? Let us know in the comments.

A young mother-of-two died after collapsing due to a rare cyst on the brain after repeatedly being sent home from hospital with migraine medication, an inquest has heard.

Laura House, 29, attended Great Western Hospital (GWH) in Swindon three times in as many days in July 2024 with worsening symptoms including debilitating headaches, blurred vision and vomiting.

Her husband Chris said in a statement that she was told her to go home and sit in a ‘dark room’ despite ‘grunting’ incoherently and talking to medical staff ‘like a toddler’.

The 36-year-old said that by the time they arrived at the hospital on the third occasion on July 9, his wife was so weak he had to carry her across the car park.

‘She had vomited each time at the hospital. This time she vomited three times…She was walking like a frail old lady, not a 29-year-old woman,’ the scaffolder recalled.

He said the previously fit pharmacy dispenser struggled to hold herself up and was slipping out of her chair as they waited more than an hour to be seen in the emergency department.

Mr House said he was surprised when medical notes showed that junior doctor Nilesh Singh, who had assessed her that evening, deemed her to be ‘conscious, oriented and not confused’.

‘I am not sure how the doctor could have reached that conclusion. As he was talking to Laura she was unable to properly respond.

Doctors told an inquest into her death in Swindon that the hospital was struggling with a backlog after a power outage earlier that day causing ‘chaos’ in the emergency department 

Ms House deteriorated and died on July 11 leaving behind her husband Chris and their two young children

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‘She was struggling to string a sentence together. I remember that she was grunting….It was like talking to a toddler or small child,’ his statement read.

The father added that he had asked if a blood test or scan would be carried out, but says he was told that she had a ‘simple migraine and there was nothing else that could be done’ .

‘I recall becoming increasingly frustrated during the assessment as the doctor began saying all the same things that had been said in all the other assessments: that it was a simple migraine and she needed to be in a dark room,’ he added.

‘I remember him suggesting, at one point, that we try find a small, dark space like a cupboard for Laura to sit in to see if this would help her symptoms.’

Dr Singh, who told the hearing the hospital was struggling with a backlog after a power outage earlier that day, claimed the ‘noise and chaos’ in the department were making Ms House more uncomfortable.

‘After the examination and discussion, we decided it would be better for her to get home,’ he added, saying he found ‘no acute neurological symptoms’ in his assessment.

However, the doctor admitted: ‘In normal circumstances, I would have considered a CT scan if it was easily available and would have been done at the same time.

‘If everything would have been empty, I would have considered it,’ he added.

It was the third time she had been assessed at the hospital after first attending the urgent care centre on July 7 and again on the morning of July 9. 

Each time she was sent home without a scan or further investigation, the inquest heard.

Having returned to her home in Cricklade, her husband says her condition deteriorated the following day and she appeared to drift in and out of consciousness.

He said shortly after 3pm she began ‘dribbling and spitting as she was breathing’ and then became blue and an ambulance was called as Mr House performed CPR on his wife.

She was rushed to Southmead Hospital for emergency surgery but died the following day on July 11 from global hypoxic brain injury caused by a rare colloid cyst.

Mr House was left with the devastating task of telling their children aged just two and six at the time that their mother had passed.

Dr Lisa Daniel, a senior doctor in charge during her third visit, said that she had not been aware that Ms House had presented at the hospital twice before.

She said, in a statement read to the hearing in Salisbury, that had she been alerted to this, a CT scan would have been considered.

Peter Dobinson, a consultant at the GWH NHS Foundation Trust who reviewed an internal investigation into the death added: ‘A CT scan…may show evidence of raised intracranial pressure.

‘I can’t say definitively that it would’ve picked it up. There’s a good chance that it would’ve, but that is speculative.’

In the time since Ms House’s death, the Trust has implemented Jess’s Law which urges medics to re-evaluate patients who attend three times with the same symptoms. 

The family’s legal team at Stewarts urged HM Area Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon, Mr Ian Singleton, to deliver a narrative verdict with a finding of neglect.

While lawyers for Great Western Hospitals NHS Trust said a ‘natural causes’ verdict would be suitable as the inquest has not heard any evidence as to potential outcomes of earlier intervention.

The inquest was adjourned for a verdict to be delivered at a later date.

For many the process of finding the perfect bed can feel surprisingly complex. With so many options available, it is easy to feel unsure of where to begin. This is where Prestige Beds delivers. As a third generation family run business there is a deep understanding that purchasing a bed should reflect the individual needs of their customers. Whilst also understanding that purchasing a bed should feel considered, calm, and ultimately enjoyable.

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Guidance is always close at hand. The team at Prestige Beds offer knowledgeable, award-winning advice, helping to translate individual preferences into the right choice. Whether it is understanding materials, selecting the ideal level of support, or finding a style that complements the room, the focus remains on creating a solution that feels entirely personal.

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⁠Russia ⁠pounded Kyiv with ballistic missiles this morning, killing at least nine people and wounding 28 others, including four children.

The Ukrainian Air Force raised the alarm over the missiles at around 1.30am local time.

Kyiv military officials asked civilians to duck into their nearest shelter only a minute later, with Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko reporting ‘explosions’.

Images posted by photographer Yan Dobronosov show wounded people lying on the streets, with cars gutted by the explosions and fires.

‘Some residents of Kyiv did not even have time to reach the shelter,’ Dobronosov said.

One of the blasts caused a fire in a six-story building in the Solomyanskyi district, Volodymyr Zelensky said on the social media network X.

‘There were many fires in the city – seven districts were affected. And, as usual, the Russians hit ordinary residential buildings,’ he added.

‘Eighteen houses, a school, the Lithuanian embassy and infrastructure facilities were damaged.’

Two people died in the Solomianskyi blaze that also injured eight, including two children.

People were also trapped in a burning building in Shevchenko and debris flattened non-residential buildings in Holosiivske and Darnytske.

Some five years since Russia’s war against Ukraine began, Zelensky warned the country’s air defence system is dwindling.

And Moscow knows this, the president added, with Russia launching dozens of aerial assaults this summer.

Zelensky said that as the country has only a few Patriot interceptors – the only kind that can deal with Kremlin-built missiles – it is ‘encouraging Russia to launch attacks that take human lives’.

‘It is critical that partners hear that these capabilities are needed not somewhere in stockpiles for hypothetical scenarios, but here and now, to contain and stop the Russian war in Ukraine.’

‘Every package of ballistic missile interceptors saves the lives of our people. And every night without them results in more casualties. I thank everyone who is working to strengthen our defences.’

This is the second major attack on Kyiv this week after missiles killed nine people, including six members of one family, on ​Thursday.

During the attack, a Russian cruise missile also entered the airspace of Nato member Poland.

Polish officials described it as an ‘unidentified object’ that caused a 9-metre-wide crater in a field in the country’s southeast.

Only the US can make Patriot interceptor missiles, so Ukraine has asked Washington to grant it a licence to make its own.

US President Donald Trump, who vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine war ‘on day one’ of his re-election, said talks for this are still ‘ongoing’ on Friday.

Washington, he cautioned, had to be ‘very careful about letting somebody build them’.

He added: ‘ We’re talking about it, but it’s a hard thing to give away that kind of technology. And I don’t think this would ever happen, but, you know, there’s people that you give that technology, they can someday turn on you.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Actor Ralph Fiennes is among the anxious homeowners waiting to see if their homes have been destroyed in the Suffolk wildfires. 

The National Trust launched a public appeal on Friday to try and raise emergency funds after the wildfire caused ‘total devastation’ and left the landscape ‘unrecognisable’. 

The fire started on Dunwich Heath, near Leiston, on Wednesday evening, when temperatures in England soared to 35C in some parts. 

The blaze, which took hold near to Britain’s biggest nuclear power station Sizewell B, spread to the size of 371 acres – equivalent to 210 football pitches. Experts believe the heath could take 25 years to recover. 

Mr Fiennes, 63, who was born in Ipswich, owns a country home in Suffolk close to the blaze on Dunwich Heath. 

The British actor’s property remained inside an exclusion zone on Friday, with access roads shut off by police road blocks. 

Hundreds of people who live there have been evacuated and do not know if their homes have been damaged by the wildfire. 

The flames came as close as one field away from Mr Fiennes’ property at one point, with a source saying that his home was ‘one of the closest to the fire’. 

Firefighters remain at the scene on Saturday and told people to continue to avoid the area 

Ralph Fiennes, 63, was born in Ipswich and owns a country house near to the heath 

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The Harry Potter star is being given updates by the fire brigade, who are still at the heath battling the wildfire in reduced numbers for the fourth day. 

The source told the Sun: ‘We don’t know if Ralph was at the house on Wednesday as he has a place in London, but it must have been an anxious time for him. 

‘He’s lived here for years and we see him out jogging from time to time.’ 

The National Trust announced a public appeal last night to restore the reserve, launching an emergency fundraising drive to help recover the damage. 

National Trust director-general Hilary McGrady described the loss of the important habitat, which was home to rare species, as ‘heartbreaking’. 

The charity said the heath was a significant area for wildlife including nightjars, skylarks and the rare Dartford warbler, as well as adders, lizards and slow worms, and butterflies including the rare silver-studded blue. 

The lowland heath habitat is one of the UK’s rarest and an estimated 92 per cent of it has been lost in England over the last 120 years, it added.

In a statement on Friday, Ms McGrady said: ‘We are looking at total devastation of a beloved and important landscape.

The National Trust launched an emergency fundraising appeal on Friday night after the fire left the landscape ‘devastated’ 

Fire engines seen near the front line in the fight against the Dunwich wildfire on Wednesday 

The fire was declared a ‘major incident’ earlier this week due to its size and intensity 

‘We’ve lost precious habitats, wildlife, trees, and a place where people have made memories over generations. It’s heartbreaking.

‘But together we can and will restore Dunwich and, crucially, make it more resilient and better adapted for the climate we’re facing now, and the climate we’ll be facing in future.

‘We’re working hard to tackle climate change and prepare for more of it, but there’s more hard work to be done.

‘We can’t do it alone. We’re a charity that relies on public support in so many ways. If you can donate, however much, please don’t hesitate.

‘Your money will go directly to the restoration of Dunwich, to regrow habitats and homes for wildlife, build more resilience into the landscape, and return this iconic place to the nation.’ 

Firefighters were able to reduce the number of appliances tackling the blaze in Suffolk to fourteen on Saturday. It was reduced further to eight for overnight operations after ‘positive firefighting action…and the creation of further firebreaks’ on Friday. 

In an update on Saturday morning, Suffolk Fire and Rescue said: ‘With the weekend here, we continue to ask members of the public to avoid the area and keep roads clear for emergency vehicles. Local roads and footpaths remain closed.’ 

In southwestern France, wildfires have been raging for over a fortnight 

Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes in the region. Pictured: flames spread on the hills behind a home in Montfort-sur-Argens on Friday

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Aerial footage of the scene shows the once grassy, coastal area known for its carpet of purple heather reduced to a charred, barren landscape, which is still smouldering. 

Crews continued to battle the blaze on Friday, and evacuated residents and holidaymakers were given a short window of opportunity to collect essential belongings under police escort. 

Firefighters across the country have been tackling similar but smaller fires. 

More than 20 fire services have been responding to fires amid hot and dry conditions which have left half of England and all of Wales in drought. 

Crews in Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, London, North Wales, Yorkshire, Co Durham and Darlington, Berkshire, Leicestershire, Bedfordshire, Greater Manchester, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Humberside, Dorset and Wiltshire, Devon and Somerset, Nottinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Kent, Merseyside, West Sussex, Surrey, and Norfolk have all reported dealing with fires in the open. 

On Tuesday, the National Fire Chiefs Council said more than 200 wildfires had been reported in England and Wales in less than two weeks, and wildfire risk remained ‘elevated’. 

In Europe, wildfires in France, Italy and Spain are still raging and have forced a mass exodus of locals out of their homes. 

Wildfires tore through southwestern France this week and became so intense that they triggered a rare fire-generated thunderstorm – a phenomenon never before recorded in the country. 

Experts said it was another sign that Europe is entering a new era of extreme wildfires. 

While wildfires have long been a part of Europe’s landscape, rising temperatures are making them larger, more unpredictable, and harder to control. 

At the start of this week, the D106 highway, a 41-mile route which links the Cap Ferret peninsula with the city of Bordeaux in south-western France, was the epicentre of the unprecedented wildfire. 

The blaze ravaged an area four times the size of Paris and forced more than 260,000 people to be evacuated from their homes. 

More than 240 properties were completely destroyed – many thought to be holiday homes owned by millionaire Parisiennes and celebrity second homes. 

George Clooney and his wife Amal were among those evacuated from their luxury French estate after a fast-moving wildfire raced towards their home.  

The Hollywood actor, 65, and human rights lawyer Amal, 48, fled their sprawling property near Brignoles as flames swept through the area on Wednesday evening.

The couple, who have nine-year-old twins, said they feared for the future of their home as France continues to battle some of the worst wildfires in its history.

In a letter to the mayor of Brignoles, Clooney wrote: ‘At this point we have no idea whether our beautiful home makes it through this terrible moment.’

‘Amal and I are committed to making sure that whatever happens to our village, we are part of this community and we’ll be part of making it whole,’ he added.

The mayor of Brignoles, Didier Bremond, said the Clooneys were not ordered to leave but chose to evacuate as a precaution.

The wildfire burning near Brignoles, in south-eastern France, scorched 321 acres and forced more than 600 residents to flee their homes, local officials said.  

Not sure if you heard, but Spain won the World Cup.

Too soon?

As if we hadn’t seen enough fancy footwork on the field, Spain’s talents also extend to the bar. Yup, they’ve gone and invented a coffee-based drink that’s fast becoming the new espresso martini.

But do we need the Spanish version of our beloved coffee cocktail? It turns out, we most certainly do.

What’s the Spanish Version?

It’s called the carajillo, (pronounced caah-raah-hee-yo), and it’s a two-ingredient cocktail you can whip up in seconds; made from equal parts Licor 43 and chilled (or hot, or warm) espresso, shaken over ice and garnished with a ribbon of orange zest.

More accurately, it’s Spain’s answer to the Irish Coffee, Norwegian Karsk or the Italian Caffe Corretto (I love the idea of a corrected coffee).

It’s simple, yet potent. In fact, it’s the simplicity (and potency, probably) that Joe Harper, head of food & beverage operations at The Zetter hotel, believes is the drink’s superpower.

‘The carajillo is definitely a lot easier to put together than a good espresso martini,’ Joe tells Metro. ‘So I can totally understand the appeal.’

The PG version is that the name comes from the Spanish word ‘coraje’, meaning courage. Legend has it that Spanish soldiers stationed in Cuba would lace their coffee with spirits to give themselves liquid bravery before battle.

The less wholesome theory is that the drink originated in Andalucia, where morning drinking was the norm. It could be a diminutive of the curse word, ‘Carajo!’, which means ‘s***’ or ‘f*** it’. It wouldn’t have been out of place to hear half-cut Andalusians shouting, ‘a carajillo!’ over their morning coffee. Allegedly…

Either way, through Spanish trade and migration, the boozy coffee digestif made its way over to Mexico. Nowadays, other than tequila and mezcal, the carajillo is now one of Mexico’s most widely-ordered drinks, especially as a post-meal digestif. Incidentally, the Spanish word for that is ‘sobremesa’, or ‘over the table’.

The younger generation has even taken to ordering the carajillo on a night-out, as a pick-me-up. You could also say that it’s the new and vastly improved vodka redbull.

How’s it different to the espresso martini?

First of all, the carajillo is served in a tumbler, not a martini glass. So, it immediately looks cooler; not unlike a frothy old fashioned. And because Licor 43 is named after the botanicals it contains, including vanilla, orange peel and cocoa, it’s delicately spiced, rich and vanilla-forward.

When paired with espresso, the result is something light and delicately sweet with notes of orange, vanilla and chocolate.

Where can you order a carajillo in London?

Currently, your best bets are tapas venues, including Camino and Las Iguanas.

At the posher end, there’s Viajante87 in Notting Hill, who use cooled espresso and 15ml cold brew coffee liqueur (Mr Black) as well as Licor 43.

Santo Remedio also does a carajillo; theirs even comes with a sugar rim and a dinky (for London) £10 price tag.

If you’re not in the capital, don’t panic, as you should expect to see the drink taking over bar menus across the UK soon, as Joe predicts it’s going to have its own viral moment.

‘I can totally see it appealing for the same reasons as the espresso martini. When that’s the case, a takeover is always possible.’

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk

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Emergency services were called to Crowther Industrial Estate on Friday afternoon, where flames and large plumes of smoke could be seen from miles away.

Five fire engines and an aerial ladder platform were sent to the scene as crews worked to bring the blaze under control.

Firefighters extinguishing the flames (Image: Ryan Atkinson/CAMERA CLUB)

Pictures taken by Northern Echo Camera Club member Ryan Atkinson show smoke filling the sky above the industrial estate as firefighters tackled the incident.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said it received a high volume of calls because the smoke could be seen from the A1, A194(M) and Sunderland Highway.

Residents and motorists were urged to avoid the area, while people living nearby were advised to keep their doors and windows closed.

Emergency services at the scene of yesterday’s fire (Image: Ryan Atkinson/CAMERA CLUB)

The smoke was reportedly visible from as far away as Sacriston.

One resident said she felt her home “shake” when the fire broke out.

Writing on social media, she said: “Actually felt the house shake when it happened.”

Another person living nearby said they had been forced to close their windows, while one witness said the smoke could be seen from Durham.

A firefighter and police officer (Image: Ryan Atkinson/CAMERA CLUB)

Northumbria Police officers also attended the scene to support the fire service, with a cordon put in place around the affected area.

A spokesperson for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said at the time: “We have five appliances and an aerial ladder platform in attendance at a factory fire in Crowther Industrial Estate, Washington, Tyne and Wear.”

Fire engines at the scene in Washington (Image: Ryan Atkinson/CAMERA CLUB)

The North East Ambulance Service confirmed it had not treated any patients as a result of the fire, and it is understood there were no serious injuries.

The Northern Echo has contacted Northumbria Police, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and the North East Ambulance Service for an update.

A Gwynedd family struggling to remain in their home village claim residents are at risk of being priced out by the planning system. Father-of-two Marc Evans worries Llanberis will become “the next Abersoch” unless local residents receive greater backing from the local authority.

Last week his application to construct a modest family dwelling in his garden was turned down for a second time. Planning officers determined the two-storey property would “not respect the traditional character” of neighbouring homes, predominantly stone-built quarrymen’s terraced houses, reports North Wales Live.

Arguing that Llanberis features a variety of housing styles, Marc, 43, emphasised his argument by photographing the 21 new properties erected in the village since 2011. “Many are large buildings with masses of glazing and features such as wood cladding and overhanging roofs,” he said.

“Several were built by the council itself.

“In contrast, our proposed family home is much more traditional with a pitched slate roof and local stone cladding. It’s not a multi-storey in glass, and no one locally has objected to the scheme.

“The rules seem to be different for local people and those coming here from outside the area with deeper pockets. It’s a scandal and it’s very frustrating.”

In recent years, Llanberis has been fighting to preserve its cultural identity. Nestled at the base of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) beside Llyn Padarn, one of Wales’ largest natural lakes, the village’s rising profile as a tourist hotspot has proved to be a double-edged sword.

Challenges surrounding over-tourism have emerged, while properties have been bought up as second homes and, notably, holiday lets, reducing availability and driving up prices. At one stage, a sticker campaign was launched throughout the village in protest at the surge in Airbnb properties established since the Covid pandemic.

According to AirROI, a data analytics platform, there are currently 99 active Airbnb listings in the village. With average nightly rates of £190, annual earnings sit at approximately £25,700.

AirROI added: “Supply has held steady year over year while revenue and nightly rates climbed – a mature market where existing hosts capture more value per listing.”

Marc, a former teacher now working as a project manager at Anglesey Solar, resides in a row of terraced houses originally built to house families employed at the nearby former Dinorwic slate quarries. He shares his home with his wife Kellie, also a former teacher originally from Deiniolen, and their two children, Leo, aged 11, and Isla, aged eight.

They’re hoping to construct a more appropriate dwelling in their garden alongside their existing property.

“Our house is fine but it’s too small for a growing family and it lacks modern amenities,” Marc explained.

“We’re looking to complement what’s here, not knock it down.

“Children have a simpler perspective on life and Isla can’t understand why this is happening – why we can’t have a new house when there are so many other properties in the village with more modern designs.”

He argued that planning regulations needed to be recalibrated to support local families wishing to remain in their communities. Without this, he warned, cultural decline would persist across Gwynedd’s towns and villages, draining their vitality.

“Houses here are affordable for people outside the area who earn three to four more times than local residents do,” Marc stated.

“A lot of the new homes built here are owned by people with addresses in London.

“I realise we can’t keep Llanberis secret forever but the planning system must do more to slow the trend. If it doesn’t, Llanberis will be like Abersoch in 10 years time – less Welsh language spoken and the primary school closed.

“We need tourism here but there has to be a balance. Currently, not enough is being done – it seems like local people are being left to fail. Councillors need to show more conviction on planning matters.”

According to the latest Cyngor Gwynedd data from October 2025, Llanberis still has some way to match Abersoch’s lack of local housing availability, where 57.8% of homes are holiday lets, second homes or empty. In Llanberis, the corresponding figure stands at 9.8% – yet Marc contends there is a noticeable upward trend.

The Evans family are hoping to construct a three-bedroom home with an inverted layout – positioning its kitchen and living space on the first floor. Owing to the shape of the garden, a new-build can only be accommodated with its gable end facing the road, meaning the roofline would slope in a contrasting direction to the neighbouring terraced properties.

Cyngor Gwynedd’s planning officers argue this is significant because Llanberis sits at the heart of the Dinorwig Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest, a designation recognising its distinguished quarrying heritage.

Marc’s architect has redesigned the proposed dwelling so that it features no windows on one side, ensuring it won’t overlook the family’s existing home. A proposed raised platform area, accessed from the front floor, has been reduced in size – yet this continues to concern planning officers, who fear it will overlook an adjacent property at the rear and create a “noise nuisance”.

This neighbouring property is Capel Preswylfa, a former Presbyterian chapel constructed in 1882 that closed a century later. It now operates as a residential flat, topped by an Airbnb with its own raised decking.

“The lower storey is subterranean with no windows at the back,” said Marc.

“The first-floor apartment for 12 people is an Airbnb owned by someone in the Peak District – but the planners seem to want to protect these Airbnb owners over the needs of local people.”

A planning report deemed the proposed design to be at odds with the neighbouring terraced properties and concluded it would not “blend in”.

Given the plot’s hillside location, officers warned it would also “stand out in the landscape”, with its positioning likely to have a detrimental impact on the adjoining property where the family currently reside.

Despite this, the application received backing from Cllr Gwilym Evans, who represents Llanberis on Cyngor Gwynedd.

The planning report noted: “The local member emphasises that granting a dwelling house for a local family will assist to reduce the real shortage of housing for local residents that already exists in the village – and has an impact on the number of pupils in the local school.”

In the meantime, Marc’s architect has produced a second redesign, with hopes that a fresh application will be lodged shortly. Cyngor Gwynedd was approached for a response.