NEARLY 150 people have signed a petition objecting to plans for 20 houses and flats in a former quarry in Merthyr Tydfil.
An application to demolish industrial buildings at Phelps Roofing and Garage in Bryntaf, Aberfan, and build 20 homes is due to go before councillors for a decision on Wednesday, May 7.
The application site includes a former quarry and there are plans for 14 houses and six apartments.
A total of 58 on-site car parking spaces would be provided to serve the proposed houses and flats with at least two parking spaces for each residential unit.
The development would use and upgrade the existing access into the site from Bryntaf.
The planning report said that layout, scale and means of access were to be considered as part of this outline application with all other matters which related to the final appearance of the proposal and landscaping to be considered through a future application for reserved matters.
Previous housing plans for the site were refused by the council in September, 2022, because “the proposed development by virtue of its layout, mass, scale and height of the residential units would result in an insensitive and incongruous form of development that fails to respect the character and appearance of the surrounding area” and because “The proposed development given its layout and scale and siting of the residential units would result in an unacceptable and harmful level of overlooking to an existing residential property (known as Springfield House) located along the northern boundary of the site.
An appeal against refusal was dismissed by PEDW (Planning and Environment Decisions Wales) in March, 2023.
There were 17 letters of objection received, of which 11 letters were from four of the same residents, a petition with 141 signatures objecting to the proposal and five letters of support of which two were from the same resident.
Those who objected to the development said that it would be detrimental to the people of Bryntaf and the surrounding area, a well-established business would be lost and that the site was too small for this many houses.
They also raised concerns about the visual impact of the development including the impact on Aberfan cemetery.
They also raised highways concerns and issues saying that the existing highway network serving Aberfan was not capable of accommodating construction traffic, or additional traffic and parking generated by the proposed development.
They said that additional vehicles and parking issues would cause health and safety issues.
Another concern was residential amenity in terms of loss of privacy and light.
Ground conditions were also raised with concerns about increasing existing flood risk, mine gas escaping, ground movement and instability which might trigger collapse or landslips in a high-risk coal mining area.
On drainage, they said that residents had experienced blocked surface water drains and sewerage pipes and on ecology they said there were slow worms and owls in the area.
Those who support the development said it would clearly improve the environment and image around Bryntaf and the village of Aberfan.
They said there would be off-street parking for the residents, the disruption during the construction of the development would be in the short term and that the development would boost the economy in the area of Aberfan.
On ground conditions, the report said that, subject to the necessary site investigations and any necessary remediation measures being carried out, the site could be appropriately developed without posing a significant health and safety risk and that further assessment would be carried out as part of any building regulation application and inspections.
Officers said in the planning report that: “Overall, the proposal would not result in an unacceptable impact on the character and appearance of the street scene or wider landscape which includes the cemetery and garden of remembrance.”
They say that the head of engineering and highways had not raised any highway safety concerns with the proposed development and that the parking and access met appropriate standards.
On residential amenity they said: “Overall scale and layout of the development is acceptable and whilst there are some concerns relating to privacy, this matter can be reasonably addressed as part of the reserved matters, where there would be further consideration of the fenestration, balconies, areas of glazing and landscaping, where further measures can reasonably be put in place to minimise any impacts to an acceptable level.”
On drainage they said that whilst the approval of the drainage scheme lay outside of the remit of this planning application, the landscaping details which might include drainage solutions would also be considered as part of a future reserved matters application.
