Plans to Extend Cemetery in Tredegar Set to be Decided by Blaenau Gwent Councillors

PLANS to extend a cemetery in Tredegar will be decided by Blaenau Gwent councillors.
The planning application to extend the cemetery at Crown Avenue, Dukestown into a field to the west of it, will go before Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council’s Planning committee at their meeting on Tuesday, April 23.
The council has lodged the application and it has been referred to the committee as it is a “departure application,” and seen to be one of “wider public interest.”
This is because the field proposed for the extension is in the countryside and outside the settlement boundary.
The yearly burial rates are estimated to be from 17 to 25.
Planning Policy Wales sets out the Welsh Government’s objectives in respect of Green Infrastructure.
In this they say that cemeteries are identified as green infrastructure at the local scale.
Planning officer Sophie Godfrey said: “This reinforces the position that cemeteries are appropriate uses outside the settlement boundary.”
Ms Godfrey explained that provision to extend Dukestown cemetery to the north had been made in the Local Development Plan (LDP), but this field is to the west.
Ms Godfrey said: “The council have undertaken further site investigations which resulted in the site to the west of the existing cemetery also being identified as appropriate for the extension.”
The report explains that the nearest homes are located 150 metres to the east
of the site.
There are also properties to the north, south and west of the site which are more than 170 metres away.
Ms Godfrey said: “Given the scale of the development proposed, and its separation distance from neighbouring properties, it is not considered that there would be a detrimental impact on any neighbouring residents.”
She added that council’s highways authority had been consulted and they have no objections to the proposal.
Ms Godfrey said: “I acknowledge that the development to extend the existing cemetery is a departure from LDP policy.
“However, as cemeteries are identified as green infrastructure at the local
scale, this reinforces the position that cemeteries are appropriate uses outside the settlement boundary.
“Having considered all relevant material planning considerations, I am satisfied that the development is acceptable subject to condition and planning permission be granted.”
The permission would be subject to a number of conditions including the need for a further sustainable drainage application be approved before building work can start. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​