23-home residential development at Land At Brookland Road, Pontymister, Risca

What was proposed

Outline permission was sought for up to 23 homes, with access and highway infrastructure, landscaping and drainage, while detailed matters remained reserved.

“Description and Location of Development: Erect residential development of up to 23 new homes, including access and highway infrastructure, landscape and drainage - Land At Grid Ref 324191 190191 Brookland Road Pontymister Risca…”

“Development: Outline planning permission is sought in respect of residential development of up to 23 dwellings with all matters reserved for future consideration.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is previously developed land beside Brookland Road, with scrub grassland, hardstanding and a redundant youth and community centre.

“Site description: The site is rectangular in shape and approximately one third of the site comprises of scrub grassland, one third hard surfacing as a result of previously demolished buildings with the remaining third occupied by a redundant youth and community centre previously identified for closure by the Council.”

“Residential properties are located to the north, east and west with a community resource centre (Risca House) to the south and Brookland Road to the east. Access into the site is via Brookland Road along the eastern boundary and service lanes from Park Place and Lyne Road. The site boundaries comprise of stone walls and metal fencing.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the brownfield site was within the settlement boundary and could provide affordable homes without unacceptable planning impacts.

“Policies: The application has been considered in accordance with national planning policy and guidance, local plan policy and supplementary planning guidance. The application site is previously developed land within the settlement boundary for which development is normally permitted subject to the requirements of other relevant Local Development Plan (LDP) policies and material planning considerations.”

“- The principle of development on the site; - The site's location within defended flood zones; - Loss of the vacant youth centre building; - Affordable housing provision and planning obligations; - Placemaking impacts; - Ecology and tree impacts; - Leisure and open space provision; - The impact on residential amenity; and - The impact on the highway network.”

Officer report

Flooding and drainage

The submitted drainage evidence indicated that flood risk would not increase elsewhere and that surface water could be managed safely through sustainable drainage.

“Policy CW5 (Protection of the Water Environment) states that development proposals will only be permitted where they do not have an unacceptable adverse impact upon the water environment, and where they would not pose an unacceptable risk to the quality of controlled waters (including groundwater and surface water).”

“Consequently, it is therefore considered that the proposals demonstrate that flood risk will not be increased elsewhere and that drainage can be managed sustainably and safely, thereby satisfying the requirements of Policy CW5.”

Officer report

What consultees said

Consultees raised no objections overall, with transport, environmental health, landscape, ecology and Natural Resources Wales responses subject to conditions or detailed future information.

“Environmental Health Manager - No objection subject to conditions that should apply to both the construction and demolition phases of the development. Informative advice is also provided to the developer.”

“Natural Resources Wales - No objection subject to conditions.”

Officer report

What local people said

Representations raised concerns about privacy, security, boundary treatment, parking, traffic, loss of views, overshadowing, daylight and flooding.

“A section of the northern boundary wall has been removed by the Council and replaced with steel fencing and locked gates. The historical maps submitted show different buildings or structures over time. The proposed development will lead to an increased security risk and lack or privacy for residents. 4.”

“Queries the extent of overshadowing Block C will have on the neighbouring properties. Queries whether the windows of the apartment blocks will be installed with privacy glass. Queries how much daylight will be lost. Concerned about the loss of view of the surrounding mountains. The new access will result in the loss of existing parking spaces, for which there are already parking pressures, congestion and parking on double yellow lines. 11.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The planning case officer presented the application to the committee.

The committee vote

The motion to approve, subject to an amendment to condition 14 and the reported conditions, passed with 13 votes for, one against and no abstentions.

“Following consideration of the application it was moved and seconded that, subject to an amendment to condition (14) and the conditions contained in the Officer’s report, the recommendation be approved. By way of Microsoft Forms (and in noting there were 13 For, 1 Against and 0 Abstentions) this was agreed by the majority present.”

Minutes

The decision

Permission was granted subject to the amended condition 14 and the conditions in the officer report.

“(i) Subject to an amendment to condition (14) and the conditions contained in the Officer’s report, the application be GRANTED.”

“Amended Condition (14) No development other than demolition works shall commence until full engineering design and detail of the proposed internal roads together with access points onto the existing highway and off-site highway improvements have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and shall thereafter be fully implemented in accordance with the approved details prior to beneficial occupation of the development.”

Minutes

Main conditions

The permission limits the development to 23 homes and requires reserved matters, highway details, parking, biodiversity, play space and affordable housing arrangements.

“18) Details submitted in relation to Condition 1 of this permission shall include details to take into account the need to provide appropriate leisure facilities to meet the needs of the residents of the proposed development.”

“The scheme shall include: - the numbers, type, tenure and location on the site of the affordable housing provision to be made which shall consist of not less than 10% of housing units/bed spaces; - the timing of the construction of the affordable housing and its phasing in relation to the occupancy of any market housing; - the arrangements for the transfer of the affordable housing to an affordable housing provider or the management of the affordable housing, if no RSL is…”

Officer report