A MIX up of architectural plans given to a builder saw a house built in the wrong place at the Lake Country House Hotel in Llangammarch Wells.

Powys County Council's (PCC) planning committee approved the retrospective application to build the bungalow which would be used by staff at the hotel

The house has already been built, about 20 metres from where a previous consent to build it had been given.

A planning application had been submitted originally in 2014 in the same spot.

Planning officer Gemma Bufton stressed that this application had not been refused, but had been amended and moved following discussions with the applicants.

Building work had been started in May and Llangammarch Wells Community Council had advised PCC that an unlawful development was being built.

But it was not until July 25 that the builders were notified that enforcement action was taking place.

A new retrospective application to have consent to what was already built, was then submitted in August,

Llangammarch County Councillor, Tim Van Rees, wanted the application deferred so that an investigation into the issues could take place.

Cllr Van Rees, said: "In the words of Tennyson, someone has blundered.

"Neither I or the Community Council have had the opportunity to examine this matter in detail.

"When Building Regulations were told that this was being built in the wrong place, they did nothing."

"This is very unsatisfactory, it should not be allowed to continue until the opportunity for a full investigation has been given."

Guy Walker, of Builth Building Services explained that the building was to be used by senior management staff as the Hotel now operates 365 days a year.

Mr Walker, said: "We were issued a set of plans, priced the work accordingly, gained the contract and started work in May."

"The  first we heard of an incorrect manner of construction was when we received a letter from the planning authority on July 25, stating we had breached conditions of planning consent.

"It's only at this time that it was discovered that we had been issued with plans from the original scheme which is 20metres from the approved location."

Mr Walker went on to say that he had liaised with the planning department and had several meetings to discuss the "unfortunate mix up."

He apologised for the misunderstanding.

Cllr Jon Williams who proposed deferring the application, said: "They were advised to cease work until permission was granted but they carried on.

"I think it's quite clear if we let this go through it would be setting a precedent that could cause problems.

Cllr Ian McIntosh added: "I don't buy that, awfully sorry we put it in the wrong place.

"It's making a mockery of the whole system, I don't feel comfortable at all with this."

Committee solicitor, Colin Edwards, advised councillors that they needed to forget that this was retrospective and look at the application as if it were a "fresh one."

"There's no mechanism for punishing applicant who make retrospective applications," said Mr Edwards.

Planning officer Ms Bufton added that if the application were refused, the applicant would in all probability win an appeal.

Cllr E Michael Jones proposed passing the application: "We are required to consider this on planning grounds before us and disregard what's gone on before."

The vote to defer this application was lost and the vote to approve it was carried.