Key Points
- Residents in Llangollen, Denbighshire have said they do not like a wooden shed that was built without getting the proper permission at 1 Trem y Creigiau.
- Homeowner Adam Taylor asked for permission to keep the building and to add new steps to get to it.
- A first request was turned down. The decision was not changed when it was taken to a higher level for review by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales.
- Mr Taylor agreed to take a raised area where people could sit outside because it was thought to be too close to the homes of people living nearby.
- Llangollen Town Council did not say anything against the ideas.
- People who live near the property, including Elisabeth Potter said the shed is in a place where it can be seen from homes makes the area feel small and is not good for the people who live there.
- Planning officers, from Denbighshire County Council said they think the new plans should be approved.
- The planning committee voted 17 to 2 to accept the plans. There is one more rule that must be followed which is to change the material used for the roof.
- Councillor Karen Edwards said the roof can be seen from the floors of nearby homes and might look exactly like the roof of a shop or factory.
Wales (Wales Times) November 05, 2026 — Neighbours of a property in Llangollen have objected to a large timber shed built without planning permission, saying it overlooks their homes and leaves them feeling “totally hemmed in”, although Denbighshire County Council’s planning committee has approved revised retrospective plans.
The dispute concerns an outbuilding and new access steps at 1 Trem y Creigiau. As reported by BBC News, the original planning application was refused, and an appeal against that refusal was dismissed by inspectors from Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW).
The homeowner, Adam Taylor, subsequently submitted a new retrospective application to retain the shed and create the access steps. As reported by Will Hayward of WalesOnline, Mr Taylor had already erected the shed, which stretches across the width of his back garden, before seeking permission.
What objections did neighbours raise?
Neighbours said the structure created overlooking concerns, harmed residential amenity and amounted to an overdevelopment of the garden. Some described the proposal as a “cramped” development.
Elisabeth Potter, who lives behind the property, told BBC News that removing the patio “does not go anywhere near the wider issues of scale, and relationship to neighbouring properties and their residents”.
She said the outbuilding “runs practically along the length of the back boundary fence” and described it as “a complete disregard for planning regulations”. Ms Potter also said she believed it was both closer to the boundary and higher than planning rules allow.
She further raised concerns about drainage and water connections at the building, saying they raised questions about “the intended function of the building”.
Why did planners recommend approval?
Denbighshire County Council’s planning officers recommended that the resubmitted plans be approved, considering the application “acceptable”.
A key change was the homeowner’s agreement to remove a raised patio area, which had been deemed to infringe on neighbours’ privacy. BBC News reported that, following that change, Llangollen Town Council lodged no objection to the proposals.
What did the planning committee decide?
The application was considered by Denbighshire County Council’s planning committee at its Ruthin County Hall headquarters on Wednesday.
As reported by the Denbighshire Free Press, councillors voted 17 in favour and two against the retrospective application submitted by Mr Taylor.
However, councillors asked for an additional condition requiring a change to the roofing material because of concerns about its appearance from neighbouring properties.
Councillor Karen Edwards said at the meeting that the condition was “absolutely critical”. She said: “I’m not suggesting that what is currently there doesn’t impact the neighbours, because clearly it does. But what I’m saying is that the roof is visible from the neighbours’ properties upstairs. And to be honest with you, to them it would look exactly like a commercial building.”
What happens to the shed now?
The committee approved the plans subject to the additional condition relating to the roofing material.
That means the shed may be retained, provided the approved scheme and any conditions are complied with. Denbighshire County Council says that, where permission is granted, conditions are listed in the decision notice.
The council also states that it is the responsibility of owners or people carrying out works to establish whether permission is required, and that failure to comply can result in liability for remedial action.
Background of the development
The shed is at 1 Trem y Creigiau in Llangollen, Denbighshire. The original application for the outbuilding and access steps was refused, and PEDW inspectors later dismissed the appeal against that refusal.
Mr Taylor then applied retrospectively to retain the structure. As part of the revised application, he agreed to remove the raised patio that had been found to affect neighbours’ privacy.
The revised scheme attracted no objection from Llangollen Town Council, although nearby residents continued to object on grounds including overlooking, loss of amenity and overdevelopment.
Prediction: How this affects Llangollen residents
For residents in Llangollen, the decision may influence how similar garden buildings and boundary-side developments are viewed in future planning applications. The case shows that objections based on overlooking, scale and residential amenity can be considered alongside changes made by an applicant, such as the removal of the raised patio.
For neighbours living close to large outbuildings, the approval indicates that a revised application may succeed even after an earlier refusal, particularly where the town council does not object and planning officers consider the scheme acceptable.
For homeowners considering similar projects, the case underlines the importance of checking whether planning permission is needed before building. Denbighshire County Council advises that owners are responsible for ensuring relevant permissions and building regulations are followed, and that unauthorised development can lead to remedial action.
