The owners of the converted outbuilding near RAF Valley on Anglesey now face a planning dispute after being reported to the council
Holiday let proprietors near RAF Valley have become embroiled in a planning dispute concerning the volume of tourist accommodation on Anglesey. Richard and Gillian Jones have been renting out a converted outbuilding for 14 years, but encountered difficulties after being reported by a passer-by.
The outbuilding, located at Ty Llwyd, Llanfaelog, was initially constructed in 2012 as a studio for Mrs Jones, a professional photographer. They subsequently began letting the studio, first to family and friends, before operating on a more commercial footing.
In July 2023, they entrusted the operation to a professional holiday letting agency. Following the business being brought to the attention of Anglesey Council, the local authority launched an investigation and, in August 2025, it was ruled unlawful. Stay in the know by making sure you’re receiving our daily newsletter.
The couple are now applying for retrospective permission for their letting enterprise. Consultants representing them stated: “Had there not been a complaint from a passing individual then no doubt this harmless business would have carried on without concern.”
The one-bedroom property was refurbished in 2022. While Anglesey Council approves of its position and high-quality design, the local authority believes its continued operation as a holiday let “would lead to a significant over provision of holiday accommodation” in the locality, reports North Wales Live.
The application was recommended for rejection at yesterday’s Planning and Orders Committee (Wednesday, July 1). However, councillors requested to visit Ty Llwyd first to make a well-informed decision.
The council’s primary concern centres on the substantial proportion of second homes and holiday lets in the Llanfaelog area. As of January 2026, this figure stood at 37.49% – more than twice the 15% threshold recommended by the council’s Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG).
It was contended that high concentrations of second homes and holiday lets can undermine communities by inflating house prices and diminishing community facilities. Excessive holiday lets would also hamper the ability of businesses to thrive, the local authority stated.
Planning consultant Berwyn Owen of Berllan Properties said Ty Llwyd’s modest holiday let contributes £83,220 to the local economy annually. Situated a 15-minute walk from Rhosneigr, it supports local shops, restaurants and visitor attractions – and actually assists local people in remaining in their community, he maintained.
Mr Owen said that, as the business has been operating since 2012, it was evident the holiday let would not falter despite the number of comparable ventures in the area. Challenging the “arbitrary” 15% threshold, he asserted the council had failed to provide “robust evidence” demonstrating how the proposal would adversely affect the local community.
“Any perceived harm needs to be substantiated with data not merely anecdotal statements about number of empty properties,” he stated in a report.
“To date, there is not one scintilla of hard and fast evidence that this small scale proposal would harm the sociocultural impact in such a way as described in the SPG.
“This development will have no impact on local house prices, due to the very fact that this is a conversion as described. No existing housing stock will be taken from market and it will not be the use of housing, for example by Airbnb.”
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