Couple who bought island and turned it into second home may now be forced to sell it
A couple who bought their own little slice of island joy could be in a bit of trouble after the local council claimed they broke their planning permission - and they might even have to close their holiday home.
The island of Ynys Faelog lies off the Anglesey coast in North Wales, though there's a handy bridge across for easy access.
Bangor University put part of the 'slice of paradise' island up for sale in 2019, and in 2021 a family spent £1 million to acquire it and a property situated on Ynys Faelog.
It used to be an office and teaching building, but the new owners turned it into a second home and holiday cottage, which people could stay at for £400 a night.
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However, they've landed in trouble with the Isle of Anglesey County Council who say there's been a breach of planning permission.
According to the council, the new owners didn't officially change the purpose of the property from education to a holiday home, and they've since invited and received an application to retroactively sort things out.
"For information the property is used as a personal holiday home by the applicants and is also commercially let out as a holiday home," said a statement from the owners, who have now submitted their application to change the use of the buildings and pointed towards the benefits their holiday home would bring.
"This tourism element allows the property to benefit the local economy over the full year rather than periodically by the home owner visiting the property.
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"The key point here, is that the change of use is contained within the confines of the existing building, meaning that the impact of the physical development is neutral and has no impact upon the character or setting of the local area.
"When the University left the island, the building was boarded up and was vandalised. It could be argued that the reinstatement of the residential use and the associated improvements to the building and the site are a significant improvement to the local area.
"The building was constructed and used as a dwelling prior to the intervening University office/teaching use and is wholly suitable for its residential use.
"As part of the holiday let process, local companies/persons are employed to tend the gardens, provide general maintenance and provide turn around facilities between guests."
Rhys Ll Jones, Anglesey council's planning development manager, said: "A retrospective application has been submitted to the Local Planning Authority following an enforcement investigation.
"The application is a retrospective application for the change of the former office and teaching building into mixed use as a dwelling and holiday let accommodation with a curtilage at Ynys Faelog, Menai Bridge.
"The enforcement investigation resulted in an Enforcement Warning Notice and the Local Planning Authority invited the applicant to submit a planning application to remedy the breach of planning control.
"However, the enforcement investigation was for the unauthorised use of the building as a holiday let and did not include a permanent residential dwelling.
"As the application includes use (or part thereof) of the building as a permanent residential dwelling, outside of any defined settlement, it is a departure from the Local Development Plan."
According to Kingsley Smith Solicitors, failure to comply with an Enforcement Notice can lead to 'significant consequences' as you can be fined for not complying.
Failure to comply is a criminal offence and can result in you being prosecuted in either Magistrates or Crown Court.
If you were to wind up in Magistrates Court, then you could face a fine of up to £20,000, while the penalty the Crown Court might hand out is unlimited.
Crown Court also has the power to take any income earned from a property that doesn't comply with the rules, while the council can also take away the bits of the property that break the rules and charge you for it.
In the most extreme cases, you could even end up in prison, though it'd be unlikely to make it that far.
Joe Harker