Residents left in the dark again over appeal to build 300 homes

A decision over whether to build 300 homes has once again been delayed by Welsh Government.

The original application for Grove Park, near Cefn Fforest, submitted by developer Persimmon was recommended for approval by Caerphilly Council planners, but in October 2018 councillors rejected the proposal following strong local opposition.

The controversial plans include a range of two, three and four-bedroom houses, open spaces and a new access road built from Heol Pit-y-Cieliogod and Beaumaris Way.

An appeal decision was due from Welsh Government in December last year, then February, and now the latest due date of September 22 has been missed.

Blackwood Independent Councillor Nigel Dix said the delay was causing concern.

He said: “For myself and the residents of Grove Park this is about saving our green spaces and protecting the environment – which is under huge pressure from developers.

“It is also about ensuring that democratically-elected members decide where and what is built, and not developers who have cherry-picked green field sites over brown field. This leaves council regeneration plans in the northern part of Caerphilly impossible to deliver, by cutting off much-needed investment.”

Fellow Blackwood independent councillor Kevin Etheridge added: “There has been major delays and I and residents want the application rejected on a green field site – the infrastructure will not cope.

“I hope common sense will prevail by Welsh Government ministers.  Hundreds of names on a petition, dozens of representations, rejection by the council planning committee, let’s hope the voices of the community count for something.”

A two-day planning appeal hearing was held in October last year, but a change in planning policy was blamed by Welsh Government for the original delay.

A Welsh Government spokeswoman refused to confirm if this was the reason for the latest delay and said a new date for a decision could not be given.

What’s the change in planning policy?

The plans for 300 homes were for an area outside a designated development boundary.

Under a policy called TAN 1, such plans would have favoured developers.

As it stood, the policy 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. This policy was suspended in May 2018 and scrapped altogether in March this year.

This has meant statements for the Grove Park appeal having to be resubmitted.