99-home development on former school site given go-ahead

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A 99-home development on the former site of Oakdale Comprehensive School has been given the go-ahead by planning councillors.

Unlike other housing developments on land previously used by the council, this one is actually by the local authority itself.

Chartist Village Gardens in Pontllanfraith, for example, is being built by housing association Pobl and Lovell, after the council sold the land to the former.

In Oakdale, the development is due to be supported with £4 million grant funding accessed from Welsh Government and is included in the council’s Programme Development Plan for 2020/21.

In a previous public consultation, the council has said 25 of the homes will be new council homes for rent with another 25 being used for a shared ownership schemes – where people struggling to get on a property ladder get initial help from public funds.

The remaining half of the development – which has been labelled as an “eco village” – will go to private sale on the open market.

Any money made will go back to the council.

Council leader Cllr Philippa Marsden, has described the plans as a “flagship development” which will be used as a blueprint for future developments.

But not everyone is happy about the development. Thirteen people objected, citing a lack of capacity at schools and GPs and the impact on nearby roads.

Planning officers argued the highway network would be able to cope. An extension to Islwyn High School (which replaced Oakdale Comprehensive when it merged with Pontllanfraith Comprehensive) could also be considered in the future to boost the number of places.

Concerns were also raised regarding the loss of the multi-use games area on the site that is still used by the community.

This will now be moved to Islwyn High School – something welcomed by planning committee chair Cllr Roy Saralis, who represents the Penmaen ward.

Councillors approved the outline plan at a meeting on Wednesday, March 23.

Further details of the housing development, such as the number of bedrooms per house and materials, will be revealed when a more detailed application is submitted this summer.