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Redrow is being investigated over claims it chopped down trees it was obliged to keep as part of a new housing development.

The company is controversially building a new estate of 260 houses in Hendredenny. An eagle-eyed resident contacted Caerphilly County Borough Council claiming a number of trees – including oak – had been unlawfully felled.

The council confirmed it is investigating the claims, which have led to calls from Plaid Cymru councillor Lindsay Whittle for the firm to be prosecuted.

When asked by Caerphilly Observer about the claims, Redrow said just one tree was cut down because of disease.

Cllr Whittle, whose ward covers Hendredenny, has been a vocal critic of the De Clare Gardens development since it was first mooted in 2016.

He said: “These trees were vital to site drainage  in the area but it appears that the housing developers, Redrow, have run roughshod over the planning rules.

“I want to see Redrow prosecuted for chopping down these trees and face a very hefty fine as a deterrent to others that might think they can ignore planning conditions to protect trees. With the climate crisis, we really need to be retaining trees.

“This is nothing more than yobbish behaviour and I’m shocked at Redrow’s cavalier attitude to these lovely trees. I want an explanation of why they were axed. If I had my way, the directors of Redrow and site manager would face personal prosecution.”

Syd James is construction manager for Redrow in south Wales.

The company, he said in a statement to Caerphilly Observer, took its responsibility to protect existing landscapes very seriously.

He said: “Our landscaping work complies with the necessary planning consents and our extensive programme of planting includes trees, shrubs, wildflower grass and native hedgerows that will provide many important habitats for wildlife to flourish.

“On the advice of our arboricultural consultants, we have had to recently remove one Ash tree due to severe dieback disease. This did not require planning permission.”

While a spokesperson confirmed the council was investigating the complaint, the authority was unable to comment further.

History of De Clare Gardens

From the way planning was approved for the housing development, its construction, and its naming, De Clare Gardens has proven a controversial addition to Caerphilly.

Plans for the 260 homes were originally rejected by Caerphilly County Borough councillors in 2016, but in 2017 it was overturned by Senedd Member Lesley Griffiths, who was the Welsh Government’s then-Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs.

At the time, the development was opposed by residents, local ward councillors such as Lindsay Whittle, Caerphilly’s Senedd Member Hefin David and Member of Parliament Wayne David.

In January last year, Redrow was the subject of an investigation by Natural Resources Wales over potentially polluted water running off the construction site and into the Nant yr Aber.

Gavin Dodd, environment officer for Natural Resources Wales, explained: “A notice to carry out anti-pollution works was served on the site as the appropriate enforcement response, to mitigate further instances of contaminated water impacting the Nant yr Aber.

It was the second time pollution concerns had been raised after Redrow was subject to a warning letter for a separate incident in 2020.

An earlier version of this article’s headline erroneously stated that NRW was investigating the council rather than the council.