RETROSPECTIVE planning permission has been given to a set of buildings that were built illegally and should have been torn down.

Members of Powys County Council (planning committee) could not find any reason in planning law not to give planning permission to  Eddie McIntosh’s collection of buildings, known as Mellowcroft near Llandegley.

Just a few months ago Mr McIntosh lost a court case against PCC and was told that he would have to knock the “Eco-Retreat” down.

Principal planning officer, Gemma Bufton, told members that the buildings, would become a farm office and used to store vegetables grown at the site as well as Silver birch sap collected at the smallholding.

Silver birch sap is a traditional drink in parts of northern Europe and China.

She also told councillors, although not relevant to the planning application that Mr McIntosh was no longer living there.

And that two people were employed at Mellowcroft.

Cllr Linda Corfield (Independent- Forden) said: “It’s a stretch of the imagination to call these agricultural buildings.”

Cllr Hywel Lewis (Independent- Llangunllo) said: “The site has been subject to legal wrangling for years and years and then suddenly he’s lost the case and he’s bringing the same buildings as agricultural.

“I can’t support this, it’s ridiculous.”

Cllr Iain McIntosh, (Conservative, Yscir), pointed out that the same application had been refused in July 2015.

“This is creating such a stupid precedent, anybody could build whatever they want, wherever they want, at any time and if they get found out they can just stick in an application for an agricultural building,” said Cllr McIntosh.

Committee solicitor, Colin Edwards, reminded councillors that the enforcement issue and the application had to be kept separate.

Cllr E Michael Jones (Independent, Old Radnor), said: “We have to consider this as a stand alone application and on its merits.

“We have had advice from the officers, we have been assured there’s no residential implication.”

He went on to propose the recommendations.

Cllr Huw Williams (Labour, Ystradgynlais) seconded Cllr Jones’ proposals and added: “I share everybody’s concerns but we are struggling to find a material planning reason to refuse this.”

The application was passed by nine votes to seven with three abstentions.

In February at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court  Eddie McIntosh was found guilty of 18 charges of breaking planning laws by failing to comply with planning enforcement notices served on him by PCC.

He was fined £750 to be paid within 12 months or face 28 days in prison.

He was also given a 12-month conditional discharge on three of the charges, relating to a motor home, a shed and the tree house which had been moved or mostly demolished, but hadn’t at the end of an enforcement period in October 2016.

It has cost PCC more than £60,000 taking legal and enforcement action against Mr McIntosh.