The leader of the Caerphilly Plaid Cymru group has said the suspension of a planning policy allowing developers to push through housing schemes against the wishes of local people should have happened a long time ago.
As it stood, the policy, known as TAN 1, meant local authorities in Wales had to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply.
As Caerphilly County Borough Council does not have this, planning applications for housing developments rejected by the local authority were likely to get the go-ahead on appeal to the Welsh Government.
Recent examples of this include a 300-home development in Bedwas by Land Matters Ltd; a 260-home development by Redrow in Hendredenny, near Trecenydd; and a 175-home scheme on Oakdale Golf Course.
However TAN 1 has now been temporarily suspended by Lesley Griffiths AM, the Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, pending a review.
Cllr Colin Mann, leader of the Plaid Cymru group, said: “The Minister’s announcement is welcome, but it has come too late for many residents.
“The legacy of government inaction means that local people will have to put up with unsuitable developments in Bedwas, Hendredenny, Caerphilly and Oakdale that were approved against the wishes of local people.
“The failure to act before now will lead to more traffic congestion, more pressure on local schools and GPs and a poorer quality of life for many with green fields being concreted over.
“The Caerphilly basin, in particular, has suffered significantly from over-development and we need developers to be looking in the north of the county borough where demand for housing is not currently being met.”
Aber Valley Councillor John Taylor called on the Minister to rescind approvals for recent housing developments.
“It is important that Lesley Griffiths now rectifies the future problems that will be created by her decisions which went against the overwhelming views of local people and the council.”
Caerphilly’s Labour Assembly Member Hefin David lobbied the Welsh Government on the issue and welcomed the change when it was announced last month.
Blackwood councillor Nigel Dix, another vocal critic of TAN 1, said: I would like to thank the Minister and AM Hefin David for listening to concerns of residents.
“This decision will put the power in hands of locally elected councillors who sit on the planning committee.”
Is it just me or has this been changed purely to help out Caerphilly council? All because they didnt have a 5 year plan of housing ground. Does this council do anything right? We now have a situation where developers can build house where they like against the wishes of residents. The council are unlikely to turn down the application because the state of housing. I also believe that if land is needed by a developer a sweetner will be given to the planning people in order to push it through.
One thing that does worry me is the mixed message by plaid. On one hand they welcome the removal of planning restrictions but then say that housing developments that have been approved are: “The legacy of government inaction means that local people will have to put up with unsuitable developments in Bedwas, Hendredenny, Caerphilly and Oakdale that were approved against the wishes of local people.
“The failure to act before now will lead to more traffic congestion, more pressure on local schools and GPs and a poorer quality of life for many with green fields being concreted over.
“The Caerphilly basin, in particular, has suffered significantly from over-development and we need developers to be looking in the north of the county borough where demand for housing is not currently being met.
Does he honestly think that developers will look at other land else where? The reason why they pick these sites is financial. So they are unlikley to look else where. Developers now have free reign to do as the please. Plaid proving once again that they are in bed with Labour.
In reality no LPA has enough land.
Agreed but we need to follow the European route, and have more small development’s Spread in between Larger Town sites.Not keep adding to settlement’s making them Larger with no added infrastructure Required.
Sustainability by discouraging the use of the car is also out of date.
People won’t walk when they have a car sitting outside.
Only Cllr who was very Vocal throughout regarding this loophole was Cllr Nigel Dix It took to long for other’s to get behind him.