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Caerphilly’s Senedd Member has called for a rethink over plans to build 24 flats in a town centre without providing any car parking spaces.

Housing association Wales and West Housing has set out initial plans to demolish two existing buildings on Bedwlwyn Road, Ystrad Mynach, to make way for the redevelopment.

It would include two three-storey buildings, with all 24 flats classed as affordable housing.

A nursery currently occupies part of the site, which also includes the former Palace Cinema that later served as a bingo hall.

The planning agents behind the scheme, LRM Planning, called the project “a suitable and positive addition” to the neighbourhood, with “excellent” transport links and the promise of providing “much-needed” affordable homes.

However, Plaid Cymru MS Lindsay Whittle has urged residents to share their concerns with LRM Planning.

Mr Whittle said: “We do need flats for younger people in the centre of the town but the flaw in this scheme is that there is no provision for car parking.

“Inevitably, whether you provide parking spaces or not, people will have cars. So if there is no provision for them on site, it will lead to parking problems elsewhere in Ystrad Mynach.”

Mr Whittle continued: “I’m aware that there is Welsh Government guidance that because this scheme is in the centre of the town onsite parking provision is not needed. But this is not the city centre of Cardiff, where people can easily walk to jobs and all the facilities.

“The nearby residents of Ystrad Mynach need their parking. My view is that the planners need to go back to their drawing boards and revise this scheme to make it more acceptable.”

The agents argued the site is “highly sustainable in that it lies in close proximity to a range of facilities and amenities within Ystrad Mynach, which reduce the need to travel”.

There is “ample” on-street parking for visitors, the agents claimed.

The pre-planning consultation stage runs until Friday January 16. Members of the public are also able to attend an exhibition event at Moriah Christian Fellowship Church, in Bedwlwyn Road, on Thursday January 8 between 3pm and 7pm.

Visit LRM Planning’s website to find out more about the proposals and to take part in the pre-planning consultation.