A community council in North Wales has declared it will only support proposals for 'fully affordable' homes in a coastal village if they are exclusively reserved for individuals who 'speak Welsh.' Trefor and Llanaelhaearn Community Council is demanding that a Welsh-language condition be incorporated before it endorses an application to construct 15 affordable residences in the predominantly Welsh-speaking village of Trefor, located within Gwynedd.
Planning Application Details
The planning submission, initiated by Grŵp Cynefin, outlines a variety of 'fully affordable' housing options on land adjacent to Llys yr Eifl. This development encompasses social rented properties, intermediate affordable rental units, and part-ownership opportunities. The architectural plans feature semi-detached one- and two-storey buildings, along with one detached two-storey home, all equipped with gardens and dedicated parking facilities.
The comprehensive application also incorporates associated infrastructure developments, including new vehicular access points, an estate road, extensive landscaping, and a sustainable surface water drainage system. During a public consultation regarding these plans, the community council expressed that it had 'no objection to the application per se,' but only under two specific conditions.
Key Conditions and Council's Rationale
These stipulations involve a mandatory Welsh language proficiency requirement for all future residents of the estate and the implementation of a specialised lettings policy, rather than the standard housing allocation framework. Trefor and Llanaelhaearn Community Council has characterised the Welsh-language prerequisite as a 'golden opportunity' for the town, which boasts approximately 1,000 inhabitants.
The council elaborated, stating: 'This is a golden opportunity to be truly progressive and innovative by being the first planning authority in Wales to venture to impose a language condition on a new social housing estate in the heartland of the Welsh language.'
Legal Concerns and Opposition
However, the proposal has not been met without significant opposition. Gwynedd council officers have cautioned that 'a planning condition restricting housing to Welsh speakers only would not be lawful.' Despite this warning, Trefor Council maintains that such a condition would be permissible, asserting: 'We understand that the Welsh Language Commissioner has received a legal opinion, which states unequivocally that it would not be illegal to make 'able to speak Welsh' a condition for the letting of social housing.'
The community council further noted that the commissioner has requested Cyngor Gwynedd, along with housing associations operating within the county, to seriously consider this critical issue. In a bid to advance their position, the council has formally written to planning authorities at Gwynedd council, urging them to endorse the homes exclusively for local Welsh-speakers.
Cultural Preservation and Broader Implications
In their correspondence, the council emphasised: 'This can give a decisive and solid start to the preservation of the soul of our nation and the few remaining fragile areas. We beg for your willingness to do so and to show our people that Cyngor Gwynedd's mission for our language is genuine, sincere and uncompromising.'
Nevertheless, not all parties share the council's enthusiasm for the Welsh-language plans. A local Welsh businessman, who preferred to remain anonymous, voiced concerns: 'Nationalists might be holding power in Cardiff within months. This discrimination could be a sign of things to come for the English-speaking majority in Wales.' The Welsh Language Commissioner, Efa Gruffudd Jones, has been approached for comment on the matter, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding language, housing, and cultural identity in Wales.
