Caerphilly council rejects outline planning application

Caerphilly County Borough Council's planning committee rejected Redrow's outline planning application for 260 homes in Hendredenny, to the delight of local residents who have objected to the development due to concerns that new properties would cause an increase in traffic, and overload local facilities. Redrow, which is considering an appeal in the near future, promised to invest in pedestrian crossings and bus networks to reduce traffic, however, local councillor Lindsay Whittle told the committee that the homes are likely to be occupied by young professionals who will commute by car.

Plans to build 260 houses in Hendredenny have been rejected by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s planning committee, held on Wednesday, April 6.

Developer Redrow submitted an outline planning application to the council in July 2015, but planning officers recommended that permission be refused due to the increase in traffic that building new properties would cause.

As part of the current Local Development Plan, which runs until 2021, proposals must have regard to the efficient and effective use of the transportation network.

A consultation on Caerphilly Council’s Deposit Replacement LDP is currently open for the public to have their say.

A petition bearing 102 signatures was sent to the council, along with 247 letters of objection from local residents who highlighted issues such as traffic, limited local facilities, and overcrowded schools for reasons to reject planning permission.

Cheers and applause went up from the public gallery after the council’s decision was announced.

As part of the development plans, Redrow proposed to change the way in which new and existing residents in Hendredenny travelled to school and work by investing in buses and improvements to pedestrian crossings.

Plaid Cymru councillor Lindsay Whittle, who represents the Penyrheol ward and is South Wales East AM, told the committee: “Hendredenny is the heart of the commuter belt. Redrow are living in utter fantasy by suggesting that cycling to work and walking buses for children are viable alternatives to the amount of cars on the road. That simply will not happen due to the gradient of the hills.

“They are misleading people. The likelihood is that these houses will be occupied by young professionals working in Cardiff who will be commuting by car.

“People do not cycle from Caerphilly to Cardiff. Hendredenny is full, that has to be understood.”

The council found that Redrow’s alternative transport measures would not reduce traffic, and that the development would as a result aggravate the existing issues surrounding congestion.

Labour’s councillor for Penyrheol, Huw Rhodri Davies, said: “Redrow’s suggestion that they will increase the frequency of the bus service along Hendredenny Drive is ridiculous, because those services have already suffered cuts, reducing them to one an hour.

“Hendredenny simply cannot cope with any more traffic. The St Cenydd Road and roundabout situation is dire. There are regularly queues back into Abertridwr.”

Jane Carpenter, Planning Director at Redrow Homes, said: “We are disappointed with the decision, and will consider an appeal in the near future.”