Plans to potentially build up to 300 homes on green field land in Bedwas have been derailed by councillors.
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Planning Committee unanimously voted against the principle for development on the site to the north of Pandy Road on September 9.
The 20.5 acre site falls outside the settlement limit in the council’s Local Development Plan (LDP) which outlines the preferred areas for building.
But planning officers said Caerphilly County Borough is in desperate need of homes – having a current supply of 1.9 years despite recommendations by the Welsh Government that local authorities should have a five year supply.
The LDP is currently under eview and councillors felt it would be improper to approve the application while that is ongoing.
600 residents signed a petition against the plans and further petition with 150 names was handed in at the meeting.
Opponents raised concerns about traffic problems in Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen, infrastructure and the environment.
Addressing the planning committee, opponent to the plan, Professor Michael Harner, said: “The feeling of local people is that this will become a dormitory development for people from Cardiff.”
Labour Bedwas Trethomas and Machen councillor, Derek Harvard, said: “We keep putting plasters of the wounds of these road problems and we’re going nowhere fast, so adding to it is just going to make it worse.”
Newly elected Cllr Lisa Jones, also spoke against the application.
The applicant, Land Matters Limited, claimed the development could be served by existing roads and said the “traffic would be manageable”.
But Cllr Gaynor Oliver ridiculed plans by the developer to offer bus vouchers to residents in a bid to combat congestion.
The planning committee unanimously voted for officers to come back with reasons to refuse the application.
Speaking after the meeting campaigner Wendy Lewis, widow of the late Bedwas councillor Ray Davies, said: “From my own point of view it would have been tragic for this to happen because Ray lived for the countryside and lived for his community.
“In the evening after a long day Ray and many other would walk through those fields and once that’s gone it’s gone forever.”
In a statement Cllr Jones and Cllr Harvard said: “We, along with residents, are delighted with the planning committee decision.
“It demonstrates that the Labour council listens to residents. If anyone wishes to discuss the application, Cllr Jones can be contacted on 07811 104389 and Cllr Harvard can be contacted on 02920 866079.”
Representatives from Land Matters Limited did not wish to comment after the decision.
Let us hope this result is repeated across the borough for all developments. More house are not needed.
Actually, yes they are. As the article says, Caerphilly is desperately short of housing land. If this goes to appeal it will probably be overturned because the council have not allocated enough sites for housing.
You are entitled to your opinion, as are the council officers, that Caerffili needs more housing but there are glaring holes in that argument. The birth rate in Caerffili is not adding to the population, quite the reverse. There are also very few jobs in this area, which also reduces demand for housing. We also have a large number of empty dwellings, I know of one in the town that has been empty for fifteen years, abd several others that have been unoccupied for two years or more.
I’m with Dean on this, this area has seen too much house building and too little investment in jobs and infrastructure. Let’s hope that sanity is returning and our dwindling open spaces are protected.
The stats published by the council shows that the population of Caerphilly has risen by about 900 people a year since 1997. Also I am fairly certain that businesses based in the Caerphilly area would like to see more people so that they can grow and flourish. The development itself would have created jobs and stimulated economic activity. Empty houses need to be filled, I agree, but much of the existing housing is poor quality and as other people have commented, finding good quality family housing is difficult. I am all for re-using land instead of building on green fields, but the council has not made enough provision of such sites in the LDP.
I think we will just agree to disagree on this one. In the last 25 years the Caerffili basin has seen massive housing developments at, Castle View, Castell Y Maun, both sides of Mill Road, Penyrheol & Energlyn, the Venosa Industrial Estate, land adjoining Pandy Road and several other places.
This has provided no solutions but many problems, over crowded schools, worsening of health care and ‘ordeal by car exhaust’ for the townspeople and the gridlocked traffic pumps fumes into their streets and homes.
I think that the quality of life of the people of Caerffili has been severely affected by over building. I was born here and have lived here all my life. I have seen the change for the worse with my own eyes. We need farmland for food production and we need open spaces to walk in. Time to call a halt to this over building and preserve the little we have left of our open spaces for the common good.
If more housing is genuinely deemed to be needed then developers need to look at brownfield sites and not the green belt to build upon! This site was not an appropriate choice for many reasons least not the one I just stated.
I am in agreement with the councillor on this occasion. I have lived in Caerphilly over the last 35 years and seen many new housing estates spring up. We have lost a comprehensive school, a hospital and the roads are unpleasant to drive. There has been no improvement in the main roads between Caerphilly and Cardiff or Newport, whilst the valley traffic has been funelled through Caerphilly further exacerbating the problem. If there really is a need for more houses then they must improve infrastructure. I pray the Hendredenny project doesnt go ahead!
I agree also, the most expensive road in Caerphilly is Crescent road, only because that’s where they hold “the Big Cheese” commonly known as “The BIG RIP OFF”, come on Caerphilly Council, Crescent Road is not the only road in Caerphilly that has pot holes.
Caerphilly is growing, and the population is growing and there’s nothing you can do about it except moan, why don’t you put your efforts into something more useful, people are fed up of you moaning
You are confusing `Moaning` with `opinions` which do not agree with yours Andrew, shooting the messenger,but I happen to agree that many people already living in Caerphilly are looking for their own homes.
I didn’t know you spoke for the people. How did you get that gig?
What a feeble comment, is that all you can say ?
No, I’ve plenty to say and I’m just getting started.
I refer you toe everything Cllr Richard Williams said but I also refer you to the statistic of the most recent census which revealed the net population change in Caerphilly is non-existent; it is nothing that cannot be catered for by the current number of houses. If the people are not entering Caerphilly in the first place, why does Caerphilly need the houses?
You are confusing the economics of it. It is not a case of people in an area increasing houses, but an increase in housing increasing the influx of people. Caerphilly does not need more people.
Move out then and give us all a rest, that’s all you go on about is how the council are doing everything wrong, and I suppose youre Mr Perfect ??? I THINK NOT !!!
What makes you think, friend Dean, lives in Caerphilly?????
What makes you think I care where he lives ?
Did you just do the adult version of “ner ner ne ner ner”? Vacuous to say the least. Do you actually have anything to say on the subject matter or is it all just angry bluster?
How old are you man ?, “ner ner ne ner ner” ? , grow up.
It doesn’t matter where anyone proposes to build houses, you people always pick an argument against it.
Caerphilly needs more affordable housing, the housing lists in this area support this.
Like I said you have nothing to add to the conversation you just want to stop anybody else making their voices heard you’re just a blowhard. This is the internet big boy anybody can make their voice heard. I would disagree with you on the details of your position but you haven’t offered any yet. What have you to say what’s your argument? Supporting evidence?
As regards the childish comment, you obviously don’t have a sense of humour I will keep it factual from now on to make it easy on you.
Pete, you must be bored, I think your just looking to argue, put the TV on mate there might be something on there to interest you, Try cartoon network it usually entertains kids.
Cartoon Network? How old are you man?
You really know how yo make friends and influence people Andrew.
I’m not interested in either Trefor
Trefor, I am scratching my head on this guy. Wondering if there is anyone we can refer him to for help with his vacuous debating abilities?
He appears not to have any debating ability, vacuous or otherwise. Trolls are best ignored as their entertainment value is short lived and becomes tedious.
Who is this “us” and when did they elect you spokesman? Speak for yourself you pompous prig and don’t suppose you can speak for others unless you can justify it.
My guess is that you are uncertain of your views and wish to bolster them by inventing a fictitious group for whom you speak.
People are not applying for development in Caerphilly, house building companies are. They want to sell to the overspill from Cardiff who can’t afford to live in Cardiff anymore because house prices in all UK cities is high because….. Well we’ve had this conversation before.
Says WHO ????
If more housing is genuinely deemed to be needed then developers need to look at brownfield sites and not the green belt to build upon! This site was not an appropriate choice for many reasons least not the one I just stated!
Utter rubbish !!!
I find myself agreeing with most of what is said opposing these peoposals, but, there has to be a debate on the lack of available housing for those seeking it,
the perverse nature of the current debate however is that it is only
taking place due to the unrealistic demand put on Caerphilly Council by the Welsh Assembly to ensure housing development sites are recognised and made available to developers in the future, if those administrative demands were released or relaxed, Caerphilly council would NOT be in conflict with its
residents on the number of current proposals throughout the Borough excersising peoples minds.
If the country wants to expand the answer is to develop entire towns and cities in the middle of no where. New motorways can be built and the entire infrastructure can be designed to use the efficient grind infrastructure rather than the cluttered ‘roads everywhere’ design that plagues UK towns and cities which were designed when cars did not exist. London would not be as congested but it’s road network was laid as pathways for horse and carts.
One decision from Whitehall would scrub off a third of house values and stem the supply of house hunters in one go.