Suggested 'Welsh speakers only' condition on housing estate deemed illegal

A condition that new houses can only be sold or rented to Welsh speakers has been deemed illegal by planning officers.

On Monday, Gwynedd council approved an application by Grŵp Cynefin to build 15 affordable homes in the seaside village of Trefor.

Trefor and Llanaelhaearn community council had asked for a "progressive and innovative" language condition in a bid to protect Welsh communities.

But following advice from Gwynedd council's own planning officers, the request was turned down and the new estate was approved without any such clause.

Community councillor Jina Gwyrfai said: "Even though over 70% of residents here speak Welsh we are at that critical linguistic tipping point and 15 houses using the wrong language can make a detrimental difference.

"We know there are many policies to protect landscapes, biodiversity, building standards and bats... everything, and I welcome such policies.

"But our Welsh-speaking communities, which are shrinking and diminishing year on year, are just as important.. where are the policies to protect those?"

In response to the request for a language clause, planning officer Gareth Jones referred to Welsh planning policy, which states: "Policies and decisions should not introduce any element of discrimination between individuals based on their linguistic ability."

"It would be illegal to impose such a condition from a planning point of view," he said.

Gwynedd council's own language unit also deemed that as this was a development for affordable homes, "they are likely to appeal to Welsh speakers in the area" and would have "a small positive impact" on the language.

The Welsh Language Commissioner's office said: "The sustainability of communities with a high density of Welsh speakers is essential to the future of the language," adding they were "keen to see policies that contribute to strengthening these communities".

But deputy commissioner Osian Llywelyn added while Welsh language skills can be considered part of housing policy, "no linguistic consideration prevails over the statutory requirements set out in the 1996 Housing Act".