PLANS for 41 houses near a Cynon Valley industrial estate have been approved.
The proposed development is for a parcel of land which is immediately to the west of Bryngelli Industrial Estate in Hirwaun.
It is set to include eight one-bed flats, two two-bed bungalows, 12 two-bed houses, 17 three-bed houses and two four-bed houses.
An application for 35 houses at the site was approved by committee in April, 2023, but a Section 106 agreement has not yet been finalised and so the decision notice has not been issued.
A site inspection was held in August and since then a series of amended plans have been submitted which altered the boundary for the development, including the removal of a small strip of land in front of the existing garages on Meadow Lane (opposite the site) which was included in error.
The boundary was changed further when it was brought to the applicant’s attention that two very small areas in front of the garages still appeared to be included in the boundary.
It also came to light that two other parcels of land at the western boundary of the site were not within their ownership or control.
At the site meeting, committee members asked for clarification on the land ownership query and a planning officer confirmed that this section of land had now been taken out of the application.
The planning officer highlighted that the site was in an established area built up of residential and commercial properties.
The highways officer said that, taking into consideration the proposed 100% affordable housing allocation and the vehicle movements associated with social housing, it was felt the application was acceptable.
Members also also asked for clarification that the removal of land as a result of the land ownership query did not impact on the ability to deliver the highways improvements outlined in the application and the planning and highways officers confirmed this would not impact the improvements being made.
Members also discussed the current highway access and considered the proposed new width as detailed as part of the improvements.
They asked about the number of vehicle movements per day and the highways officer confirmed it would be an estimated 106 movements.
The highways officer also highlighted that as part of the conditions of the application, no development on the site would take place until the highways improvements to Meadow Lane and the junction access had been completed.
Members also asked about the potential use of the track opposite the site entrance but the senior highways officer said this was a private unadopted track and the entry access to the proposed development would be off centred to the current access so it would be unlikely that this route would be used.
Members also asked about the revision to the layout of the proposed houses but the planning officer said there had been minimal change from the previously approved application to accommodate the extra properties.
Local members, councillors Karen Morgan and Adam Rogers, spoke of their concern regarding the highways safety and in particular the use of Meadow Lane to access the site, the access for construction traffic and the use of the unadopted track directly opposite the site.
The highways officer said that a construction method statement would be required as part of the conditions of the application and that the use of the private unadopted lane would not be acceptable by construction traffic.
He also reiterated that the highways improvements would be required to be completed before any construction work could start on the main site.
The local councillors also shared their concern regarding the number of parking spaces available and in particular the possibility of visitors parking outside the site further impacting on highways safety.
The highways officer outlined the number of parking spaces as shown on the application and confirmed whilst the parking provision was lower than the maximum standards set out within the council’s supplementary planning guidance, the proposed development provided 74 off-street car parking spaces with a minimum of one space per one and two bed unit, a minimum of two spaces per three bed unit and three spaces per four bed unit with space available within the new development and widened lane to accommodate an element of short term visitor or residents parking.
In light of the development for social housing with established lower levels of car ownership the parking provision was considered to be acceptable.
Councillor Ross Williams asked if six more houses was that detrimental and said he thought it was a great application.
Councillor Danny Grehan said his main concern was that they were putting so many houses next to an industrial estate and taking industrial land out of use which he said was “very sad.”
Councillor Mike Powell raised concerns about the size of the houses and gardens saying he didn’t think they were treating people fairly and that it was not up to the standard he would like to see in RCT.
But Councillor Wendy Lewis said it would have to follow certain regulations which covered the size of gardens.
