A community council in Wales has objected to plans for a new affordable housing development amid fears of a decline in non-Welsh speakers.
An application has been submitted to Gwynedd Council to build 18 affordable homes in the village of Botwnnog.
But Botwnnog Community Council has argued there is no local need for the homes, with just four names on the local housing list, and said the increased population would have a ‘detrimental impact on the stability of the community’.
The applicant suggested that the homes would be for local people, who would likely be Welsh speakers.
However, the community council said while it would be ‘great’ if the proposed homes could be for Welsh speakers only, this would not necessarily be the case, as there is high demand for second homes and short-term accommodation.
It said tourism had already led to a major decline in the proportion of Welsh speakers in nearby communities.
Botwnnog council also raised concerns about health services being overwhelmed, the capacity of sewage sites, and the safety of road access to the proposed development.
According to Gwynedd Council, there are 2,374 applicants on the register for social housing across the county, though it acknowledged that information about local demand was not included in planning documents.
However, the planning authority concluded that that application should be approved, and recommended that the developer works to promote the Welsh language among residents.
