PLANNERS have refused an application to use a shepherd’s hut as a holiday home due to a farm being too far away from any bus or walking routes. 

The owners of Dyffryn Farm in Henllys, Cwmbran wanted to place a single shepherd’s hut-style unit on an agricultural field and create a parking area for tourists staying there. 

But Torfaen Borough Council’s planning department said the holiday let, which would be outside of any development boundary, would be “entirely car-dependent for its visitors to reach basic facilities within the duration of their stay”. 

Planning officer Tom Braithwaite said it therefore couldn’t be considered sustainable and though there is a policy to support new tourism proposals they should be “within active travel or public transport routes as to reduce new car-dependent development”. 

He said “the small economic benefit of the singular, tourist proposal” in the “isolated location” couldn’t justify departing from the policy.