Affordable house types at Land West Of A4119 Cefn Yr Hendy, Miskin, Pontyclun

What was proposed

The application sought changed house types for plots 304 to 402, with related works including affordable homes and air source heat pumps.

“In terms of the wider site, the plans confirm additional planting to the front of plots 27, 36 and 37, with various minor tweaks to boundary treatments, including additional or amended close board fencing and adjustments to stone walls. The house types for plots 173 and 279 have also been swapped with each other.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The site covers about 19.8 hectares around and north of existing housing, with woodland, open space and nature designations nearby.

“The wider application site comprises approximately 19.8 hectares of land formed in an L shape around and to the north of the established residential development at Cefn y Hendy, Miskin.”

“The site is affected by a number of designations directly adjacent to it. The Local Development Plan designates the woodland and open space as both a special landscape area (SLA) and site of importance for nature conservation (SINC).There are also designated regionally important geological sites (RIGS) to the north and east of the site. The site is not subject of an air quality management designation though the Mwyndy Air Quality Management Area lies nearby.”

Officer report

Earlier approvals

The site already had approval for 460 homes and a local centre, followed by several approved non-material amendments.

“23/0459/NMA: Non Material Amendment sought for the phasing appropriately reflects the layout approved by Reserved Matters approval 22/0690/16. Decision: 03/05/2023, granted.”

“22/0690/RES: Reserved matters approval of the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of residential development (460 units), and local centre development pursuant to outline planning permission 20/1196/15, open space and associated drainage and landscaping including the discharge of conditions 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 26, 28, 30 and 32. 20/1196/15 (revised details received 7th September2022 and 1st November 2022) (revised site layout received 7th February 2023).”

Officer report

Why officers recommended approval

Officers considered the changes consistent with the approved development, with no new amenity or landscape impacts and only minor alterations.

“The proposed alterations fall within the scope of the previously approved development and the increase in affordable dwellings would be expected to integrate with the wider scheme. The layout, scale, and number of homes remain unchanged, so there are no new amenity or landscape impacts, while other adjustments are minor and do not materially alter the character of the scheme.”

“The proposed development is therefore considered to comply with Planning Policy Wales 12, PPW Technical Advice Note 2, and Policies AW5, AW6, AW8 and AW10 of the Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Development Plan.”

Officer report

What neighbours said

Three objections criticised concentrating social housing in one phase and raised concerns about integration, crime, safety and the local area.

“Three objections have been received raising the following concerns:”

“The change of planning to social housing is a disgraceful deception by the original buyer • Not integrating social housing tenants with private tenants throughout the development contravenes government guidance and good practice as potentially there will be issues with integration, anti-social behaviour and potential crime if they are housed in one area/phase alone • This will bring many people who will have no respect for the area and bring stress and worry to law abiding…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The Head of Planning presented the application to the committee.

The committee’s decision

The committee approved the application in line with the recommendation, without requiring a new Section 106 agreement or deed of variation.

“The Head of Planning presented the application to Committee and following consideration it was RESOLVED to approve the application in accordance with the recommendation of the Director, Prosperity and Development without the requirement for a S106 Agreement.”

Minutes