Plans to build up to 125 homes on the site of former council offices in Pontllanfraith have been backed by councillors.

The plans to build on the former Pontllanfraith House site were initially rejected by councillors last month amid concerns the development would encroach onto the nearby Sir Harold Finch Memorial Park.

However, the plans came back to Caerphilly County Borough Council’s planning committee, with council planners assuring councillors the Memorial Park would be unaffected.

The park was named in memory of the former MP who represented Bedwellty between 1950 and 1970 and it was designated a site of special scientific interest in 1987.

The Chartist Garden Village development, which is a collaboration between Caerphilly County Borough Council and housing association Pobl, includes 83 affordable homes.

Councillor Lisa Phipps, the council’s cabinet member for Homes, said: “Delivering high quality affordable housing is a key priority for the council.

“Chartist Garden Village will offer a range of housing options for local people on a flagship development and in a prime location. 

“As well as affordable housing, the council’s partnership with Pobl also presents the potential for wider investment in the local economy, including the creation of jobs and training opportunities.”

Neil Taylor of Pobl said: “Our vision is to create a modern garden village with a real sense of place and community, using good design principles and by enhancing the existing green infrastructure.”

Cllr Colin Gordon, who represents Pontllanfraith, said: “66% [of houses] on this site will be socially rented and affordable housing.

“This is unprecedented in modern times, so it was the right decision.”

Cllr Jamie Pritchard, who was one of three Labour councillors who called on the planning committee to re-think its original decision and deliver “urgently needed” affordable housing, said: “I’ve seen it too many times. Councillors with paid-up mortgages and big private pensions campaigning against social housing developments.

“It’s about time those councillors had the guts to champion the benefits that socially rented housing will bring for those low income families who have been waiting on the housing list. It shouldn’t be ‘I’m alright Jack’ and forget the rest.”

After the meeting, Harold Finch’s granddaughter, Beverley Harmer, said she was “hugely disappointed”.

Ms Harmer raised concerns over biodiversity and highlighted its location next to the local nature reserve.

Independent councillor Kevin Etheridge said it was a disappointing decision to prioritise housing over the environment, ecology and open green spaces.

Additional reporting from the Local Democracy Reporting Service