A controversial scheme to build more than 600 new houses on greenfield land in Caerphilly has been rejected by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s planning committee.
Persimmon Homes and PMG’s plans for land at Gwern y Domen had been meet with thousands of objections, multiple protests and opposition from local and national politicians.
Around 50 campaigners and residents applauded as Caerphilly County Borough Council’s planning committee voted unanimously to refuse planning permission on Wednesday, August 14. However, an appeal is expected.
The committee’s final decision has been deferred until the next meeting for reasons of refusal to be heard.
Concerns were raised about the scheme being contrary to the council’s own planning policies, while also harming a special landscape area.
Residents raised a variety of issues with the plans, including the impact on traffic in Caerphilly town, pollution, strain on public services and the loss of biodiversity.
The meeting heard from businessman Lyndon Wood, who lives on Gwern y Domen Farm, which would be surrounded by the development.
Mr Wood, who has lived there for 19 years, said: “The proposal would destroy the character of a special area.
“It would have an unacceptable impact on our lives.”
Mr Wood also explained that “living on a building site” for a number of years would be harmful to his wife, who has suffered with ill health.
Concerns were raised about the scheme being contrary to the council’s own planning policies, while also harming a special landscape area.
Cllr Elaine Forehead, who represents the St James ward, where the development would be built, spoke against the plans at the meeting and questioned why brownfield sites, like the one at Waterloo, could not be be built on instead.
She said: “We can’t agree a Climate Emergency then ignore it the next day. Can we really afford to lose greenfield land like this?
“We haven’t got the infrastructure in Caerphilly.
“We should be protecting our children’s and grandchildren’s future. We can’t make the mistake today of allowing it to happen.”
But Richard Mann, deputy chief executive of United Welsh Housing Association, said that people needed homes in the borough.
“I’m speaking on behalf of the 780 families who are on the waiting list right now who can’t access a home – that’s the reality,” he said.
“We’re just simply scratching at the surface, we need some large scale developments to address the problem.”
Tim Stephens, planning development manager at the council, argued that the development would satisfy housing demand – despite being contrary to the council’s own planning policies.
But committee members unanimously voted to dismiss the application which, if approved, would have been referred to the Welsh Government for a final decision.
A number of planning committee members also called for the plans to be rejected, including Cllr Liz Aldworth, Cllr John Taylor, Cllr Mike Davies, Cllr John Bevan and Cllr Robert Gough.
Meanwhile, Cllr Tom Williams argued: “We’re here to represent the people, and if they don’t want it, we should oppose it.”
Gwern y Domen Conservation Group chair, Cllr Jayne Garland, said: “I’m really pleased with the outcome today.
“It is what I expected, however they [councillors] are having to do a considerable amount of work because we need them to put together some robust reasons to refuse – not just one or two, we need many.
“This is the task of the next phase. We have got to fight the Welsh Government and Persimmon Homes on the next phase, so we’re not giving up, we’re not going to stop fighting – we’re going to continue to fight.”
Caerphilly AM Hefin David, who has long opposed the plans, said: “It was good to see cross party agreement on the decision to refuse permission for development at Gwern y Domen.
“As Labour Cllr Liz Aldworth’s proposal to refuse was supported by Plaid Cymru, it demonstrates that the community, regardless of politics, is united against this harmful proposed development.
“I will now be writing to the Welsh Government minister responsible for planning to inform her of this unity in Caerphilly. I will ask her to ensure that Welsh Government environmental sustainability policies are upheld and for her to support the decision made by Caerphilly councillors.”
South Wales East AM, Delyth Jewell, also opposed the plans and said: “The strength of feeling that came out from everyone that spoke against the proposals, being applauded by those in the public gallery, shows how the local community is united in opposition to these plans.
“Why is it that we are letting housing developers dictate where new housing should be built rather than looking at what is best for the local community?
“I will do everything I can to make sure that these proposals are refused.”
Caerphilly MP Wayne David said: “I am delighted by the decision of the Planning Meeting. It is important that people continue to speak with one voice and that cross-party support continues. This must be maintained into the autumn.”
After the decision was made, Cllr Elaine Forehead said: “I want to thank the planning committee for showing the strength and the courage to stand up to the developers – they’ve put people before the developers.
“Today is the most amazing feeling. Tomorrow we’re going to get up and we’re going to start building our case for the Welsh Government to see where we can go from there to make sure Gwern y Domen is protected.”
Fellow St James ward councillor, Christine Forehead said: “I am absolutely over the moon with the result. I’d like to thank all of my colleagues on the planning committee, but this is something that should never have come about in the first place.”
A spokesman for Persimmon Homes said: “We await this planning application going before the planning committee meeting in September.
“We maintain that this development would provide huge benefits to the area, both in terms of much-needed new homes, as well as economically.”
the decision to refuse planning at gwen y domen is the right decision caerphilly is in need of a new by-pass before any major house building project is under taken we need to use old brown field sites like the waterloo site before we build on green land
They should also make sure that Blackwood, and surrounding area’s has the same level of support as Caerphilly, and reject planning on any green fields or out of development areas! Otherwise the electorate will start to wonder if Caerphilly is getting preferential treatment??
They will just appeal to the Assembly now and get the nod to go ahead
Fantastic news that the proposed development at Gwern y Domen has been refused. Caerphilly already has a chronic traffic problem, lack of sufficient infrastructure and public services in all areas, and the assumption by the developers “transport” paper that the impact of this development, with regard to traffic increase, would be “small” is ludicrous, almost as ridiculous, is the assertion that this development would encourage walking and cycling as the main mode of transport for residents. Walking from Gwern y Domen to Asda to get the family shopping, or walking the children to school…..if you can get them into one, it’s a joke surely…or maybe a horse and cart would be made available with each house purchase?
Well done people power!!!