Controversial plans for a business building log cabins near Welshpool have been withdrawn for a third time.

Retrospective plans to change the use of agricultural buildings for log cabin construction and a sawmill at Gaer Farm, Golfa, Welshpool, have been withdrawn by the applicants.

The plans had been previously submitted to Powys County Council in 2021 and 2022, but were rejected on the grounds that the application couldn’t show how safe entry and exit onto the road could be achieved.

In March 2023, Powys Highways raised similar concerns over traffic management in the form of a consultee comment.

They said: “The Highway Authority has previously, made very clear their concerns about this proposal.

“Whilst it is noted that the applicant has sought to address some of those concerns, in their latest submission dated January 2023, regrettably the Highways Authority maintains that many of the fundamental highway constraints still remain.

“It is now noted that the description of the proposed development has been amended, to reflect the fact that this is actually a ‘retrospective’ application. It is understood that unauthorised operations have taken place on the site since September 2021, and that an active enforcement case is currently being considered regarding the unauthorised change of use.”

Highways authority also took issue with the data submitted by the application regarding traffic movements and vehicle counts in the area, information that is required for them to make an informed decision when granting planning permission.

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They added: “Unfortunately, the applicant has refused to submit the data requested above and has instead, chosen to submit what can only be considered to be anecdotal traffic projections for the development, based on the current operating model of the business.

“There is no credible detail submitted to demonstrate how the projected movements details were collected, as we understand that no independent manual and/or automated traffic counts have been undertaken on the highway network.”

The project is seeking retrospective planning permission as applicant Nick Jones has been renting the buildings to a log cabin building business without planning consent.

A spokesperson for Powys County Council said: “The council confirms that planning application 22/1689/FUL was withdrawn by the planning agent acting for the applicant, and the council is in receipt of a further application which is in the process of being validated.

“Once validated, this planning application will be available to view on the council’s planning portal website.”