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Plans to build a three-storey block of flats next to Y Fron guesthouse in Pwllypant have been given the seal of approval by councillors.

A planning application for ten one-bedroom flats and one studio flat was submitted to Caerphilly County Borough Council by Lilyalex Properties, which runs the neighbouring guesthouse which is now a House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO).

Associated support accommodation, a nine-space car park and a green roof are also included as part of the development.

Planning officer Anthony Pyne told the planning committee on July 14 that the applicant intends to offer the accommodation to Caerphilly Keys, which is a branch of the council. Therefore, Lilyalex Properties will sell the flats to the council for £49,069 each once they are built.

All of the flats will be classed as affordable housing, meaning they are below market value.

Speaking on behalf of the applicant, planning agent Catrin Oliver-Thomas said the development addresses the demand for self-contained move-on accommodation.

Up to 21 people could be living in the proposed block, next to the A469.

Llanbradach and Pwllypant Community Council objected to the application due to concerns about highway safety with the expected increase in traffic. The community council also objected because of overdevelopment of the site.

At the planning committee meeting, Plaid Cymru councillor for Llanbradach and member of the community council, Colin Mann, spoke against the application.

He said: “I realise in planning terms that this is probably very acceptable, but there are issues I think should be brought to the committee.”

Cllr Mann added that the “insufficient parking”, noise levels and the maintenance of the historic viaduct were his main concerns.

The council’s heritage and placemaking officer said: “This building will help to tie in Y Fron and the viaduct across the property.”

Two residents objected to the plans citing existing antisocial behaviour issues at Y Fron as their main concern.

Independent councillor Nigel Dix questioned why the council hadn’t pushed for the development to be more carbon neutral, if it were to be the future landlord.

Cllr Dix said: “We’re supposed to be taking climate change seriously – I do think we have missed a trick here.”

The site isn’t allocated for any purpose in the Local Development Plan (LDP), but in the council’s report presented to the committee it is described as a “relatively underutilised piece of land”.

The report adds that one-bedroom flats are in demand in the Caerphilly basin.

Members of Caerphilly County Borough Council’s planning committee deferred the decision while a Section 106 agreement is confirmed.

A Section 106 agreement is a legally binding contract between a developer and the Local Planning Authority (LPA). In this case the council are asking for a minimum of 40% of the development be classed as affordable housing.

Despite Liliyalex Properties committing to 100% of the homes being affordable, if this changes the Section 106 agreement will ensure the company has an obligation to provide a minimum of four affordable homes as part of the development.

The final decision, which is subject to the Section 106 agreement, will be made by the council’s housing and regeneration team.