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Plans to build 44 affordable homes on land at Nant y Calch Farm, Caerphilly, have seen more than 620 letters of objection from residents concerned over the loss of wildlife and habitat.

Harmoni Homes – a brand of housing association United Welsh – wants to build a mix of one-bed flats, two-bed terraces and three detached four-bed houses, all for social rent.

The 1.6-hectare site, off Warren Drive, would also include a new access road, landscaped open space and drainage works, according to documents published by consultants Geraint John Planning Ltd.

However, the Nant y Calch Conservation Group said there are three main areas of objection from residents. These are the development’s impact on wildlife and habitat; the loss of a greenfield site over more suitable brownfield locations; and its impact on road safety, because access to the site is limited.

The group, which has recently been constituted, say the land is one of Caerphilly’s most important wildlife sites and if development went ahead, would increase the risk of local flooding.

Campaigners from Caerphilly Woodland Trust and Caerphilly Eco Hub have also identified at least nine of the UK’s 19 bat species roosting at the farm – including the rare greater horseshoe bat and barbastelle.

Simon Lewis, of Nant y Calch Conservation Group, said: “In our view the scheme has been badly thought through. We agree there is a need for more affordable housing, but why build on a valuable, largely greenfield area when more suitable brownfield sites exist?

“The area around the farm contains a public right of way and is used by many people for walking, recreation and mental wellbeing. Its loss would be immeasurable.”

Access to the development, if built, would be along the narrow roads of Princes Avenue and Warren Drive, the latter opening onto the busy junction on Mountain Road, often the scene of traffic collisions.

The campaign group has also pointed to road traffic statistics which state Caerphilly County Borough has the fifth highest number of serious road traffic injuries in Wales.

Local ward councillors Colin Elsbury and Stephen Kent are opposed to the scheme.

A planning application is now expected to be submitted by Harmoni Homes following its pre-application consultation – which saw 620 letters of objection.

Documents published on the website of Geraint John Planning Ltd state the development has been designed to meet Welsh Government energy standards, incorporating solar panels and air source heat pumps. A tree buffer is planned along the southern boundary, close to ancient woodland, and a drainage basin would also form part of a “sustainable urban drainage system”.

A key aspect of the scheme is the building of an access road, which, campaigners say, would open the site of the former Ness Tar Plant for development – increasing traffic further.

The area, next to Nant y Calch, is highlighted as a potential area for redevelopment in the council’s Caerphilly 2035 regeneration plans.

Tar production stopped at the plant in 1985 after nearly 50 years, and since the mid-1990s, the land has been left empty. The site has long been earmarked for development and regularly appears in council development plans.

There are fears that any work on the area could result in contaminated and toxic materials from the old tar plant being disturbed.

Plaid Cymru Senedd Members Peredur Owen Griffiths and Delyth Jewell have previously voiced their opposition to potential homes on the Ness Tar plant site.

Speaking in 2023, the then council deputy leader Jamie Pritchard, who is now the authority’s leader, said: “The site at Ness Tar is a long-standing brownfield site, that if brought into use for housing, would clearly reduce the demand on green spaces across the Caerphilly basin.

“However, the site would only be built on if the conditions for doing so are environmentally sound, so there is no guarantee at this time.”