Eight residential units at Land At William Street, Trethomas, Caerphilly

What was proposed

The application sought approval of access, appearance, landscaping and layout for up to eight homes, with scale remaining reserved.

“Description and Location of Development: Seek approval of the reserved matters in respect of access, appearance, landscaping and layout of planning consent 25/0061/OUT (Erect up to 8 residential units and associated highway, drainage and landscape infrastructure) - Land At Grid Ref 318341 189126 William Street Trethomas Caerphilly…”

“Development: The application seeks approval of the reserved matters for access, appearance, landscaping and layout in relation to the outline planning consent 25/0061/OUT, with scale remaining reserved.”

Officer report

The site

The site is vacant green space north of James Street, beside trees and existing two-storey terraced homes.

“Location: The development site is located on a parcel of vacant land to the north of James Street, in Trethomas.”

“Site description: The site is an undeveloped section of green space to the north of James Street. The land sits to the south of a portion of trees of varying maturity. The site fronts onto three streets, with four rows of two storey terraced dwellings, with a further three properties being located to the north east of the site, being accessed off Glyn Street.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the amended boundary treatment resolved earlier design concerns and found the proposal acceptable subject to conditions.

“The primary issue therefore that required to be addressed was the front boundary treatment and the resultant inactive edge that this would lead to, fronting onto the primary provision of open space within the scheme.”

“It is however acknowledged that there are several planning conditions on the outline consent that would impact the design of the development, namely condition 15 for boundary treatments and condition 16 for a hard and soft landscaping scheme, neither of which will be discharged within this submission and as such will be secured within the necessary subsequent discharge of conditions applications, or alternatively the further required reserved matter - scale.”

Officer report

Main planning issues

Officers assessed design, landscaping, open space, drainage, residential amenity, affordable housing and highways.

“Policy CW7 relates to the Protection of Open Space and states that proposals for development on areas of open space within settlements will only be permitted where: A. The amount of open space remaining in the neighbourhood would still be adequate to serve local needs. B. The site has no significant value as a recreational resource or an area of visual amenity.”

“Where there is evidence of need, the Council will seek to negotiate the following affordable housing targets of:40% of the total number of dwellings proposed on sites within the Caerphilly Basin (excluding Aber Valley). Due to the nature of the development, the scheme is 100% affordable and therefore, it complies with the affordable housing target of the area.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Transportation and housing officers raised no objections, while drainage, landscape and highway matters were addressed through approvals or conditions.

“Transportation Engineering Manager - CCBC - No objection - conditions recommended.”

“CCBC Principal Housing Strategy Officer - No objections.”

Officer report

Public objections

Twenty-eight objections raised concerns including loss of open space, drainage, flooding, maintenance, biodiversity, highways and overdevelopment.

“Extent of advertisement: The application was advertised by means of letter in addition to four site notices being erected within the surrounding residential context.”

“Summary of observations: Objection comments can be summarised as follows: - Loss of open space. - Excessive enclosure. - Unacceptable attenuation basin. - Lack of maintenance strategy. - Concerns regarding drainage. - Lack of useable amenity space. - Loss of GI and biodiversity. - Outstanding legal issues with regard to the Outline permission. - Procedural concerns within the application process.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A local resident spoke against the application and the agent spoke in support.

The committee vote

Members voted 12 in favour, none against and two abstentions on a motion to approve the recommendation with conditions.

“Following consideration of the application it was moved and seconded that, subject to the conditions contained in the Officer’s report, the recommendation be approved. By way of Microsoft Forms (and in noting there were 12 For, 0 Against and 2 Abstentions) this was agreed by the majority present.”

Minutes

The decision

Permission was granted subject to the conditions contained in the officer recommendation.

“(i) Subject to the conditions contained in the Officer’s report, the application be GRANTED.”

Minutes