James Wale moved in 2024 to the rural Carmarthenshire site, which, according to an objector, typically sounded “like a tropical jungle”, having run a rare bird business in neighbouring Pembrokeshire, Wales Online reports. 

The council issued him with an enforcement notice alleging breaches of planning control which, after an appeal, has now been upheld. 

But Wale has been handed additional time to relocate the animals.

Planning agents representing Wale said his former business in the grounds of Pembrokeshire’s Picton Castle ended due to the lease not being renewed. 

Wale moved the birds to his farm in the north of the county, which he then sold. He later moved to a 17-acre woodland and grassland site near Llannon, Carmarthenshire.

According to his agents, Wale initially hoped to establish a tourism venture, but decided to scale back his plans to instead set up a private bird welfare home.

According to the enforcement appeal submitted by the agents, he was living onsite in a log cabin which had been transported from Pembrokeshire and he had set up animal and bird enclosures. 

Wale kept horses, goats, chickens and ducks among other animals. 

The appeal document said: “The initial scheme (now abandoned) to establish a tourism facility on the site comprised not only various bird and animal aviaries and enclosures for the site, but the improvements to the vehicular access, the provision of a car park and the provision of reception, office/staff, toilet and vets centre buildings, together with reptile, mongoose and serval animal enclosures.”

It also said a planning application was instead being prepared for a smaller venture, which would include roughly 30 bird and animal enclosures and a possible veterinary-type building, and that additional ecology reports were needed. 

It also said Wale did not intend to continue living onsite.

During the appeal, objectors conveyed worries about changes that had taken place at the land, sanitation, stray animals and unusual noises. 

Llannon councillor Llinos Mai Davies argued the site adversely impacted neighbouring properties and had a negative effect on the character of the area.

The planning agents submitted photos of the land which showed the cabin and various enclosures. The council also submitted photos showing boggy conditions and the woodland access track off the A476. 

Subject to some wording amendments to the enforcement notice, a planning inspector appointed by Welsh ministers has now dismissed the appeal.

The inspector said Wale should be given a year, not six months, to stop using the land to keep non-agricultural animals, remove the enclosures and bring the site back to its initial condition. 

Wale’s agents told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that a planning application would be created in an attempt to keep the birds on site. The LDRS has reached out to Wale for a comment.