A controversial housing development was approved for a second time despite a councillor declaring “somebody has to take a stand against these developers”.

At its virtual meeting on Wednesday Conwy council’s planning committee considered the application by Macbryde Homes for the 22-home scheme off Dolwen Road, Old Colwyn.

On January 8 this year the scheme was handed to officers to approve with conditions laid down by the committee about road widening, landscaping, street lighting and Section 106 payments – which help towards improving community assets such as open spaces, play areas and local services.

However the scheme came back before the committee because a planning policy relating to housing supply (TAN 1) was scrapped by Welsh Government before the details were agreed and signed off.

Cllr Dave Cowans, who represents Eirias ward, felt it was now time to refuse the application, despite officers recommending it be passed again.

He told members: “We are charged with protecting our constituents’ issues. I honestly suggest to you if TAN 1 hadn’t been in existence we wouldn’t have approved this.

“Our constituents are vehemently opposed to this development. I would propose we refuse this application, bearing in mind Welsh Government have realised the stupidity of TAN 1.

“I would appeal to members to realise the difficult circumstances we were under previously.

“We need to send a strong message that the days of developers pressing us to approve developments out of hand in Conwy are over.

“Let’s do what our constituents ask us to. Somebody has to take a stand.”

Planning was originally granted in January for the scheme after a bitter battle in which many councillors expressed a wish to refuse the proposal, because the plans fell outside of the local development boundary and raised heated objections from local residents on a number of issues.

However members approved it after being told the authority may lose any subsequent appeal due to Welsh Government guidance at the time meaning councils had to demonstrate a five-year supply of housing under the TAN 1 policy.

In Wednesday’s virtual planning committee officers said refusing permission could still leave the council open to challenge by the developers because they had already passed the scheme once, and only the Section 106 agreement needed finalising.

Members took the legal advice and voted by 12-2 to approve the proposal.