Council welcomes Weycock Cross appeal dismissal

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has welcomed the decision of the Natural Resources Minister, Carl Sargent, who has today dismissed the appeal brought by Taylor Wimpy PLC for a development of up to 200 houses at the Weycock Cross site in Barry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Neil Moore, Leader of the Council, said: “I am absolutely delighted that our tough stance on this issue has been vindicated. As we made clear in our representations to the planning inspector, there is no justification for extending the settlement boundary of Barry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This was the reason why this administration removed the Weycock Cross site, and others like it, from the Vale’s draft local development plan. And why the Council’s planning team have fought at every stage to prevent it. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There can be no argument that the Vale of Glamorgan needs more homes to meet the needs of families and to fuel the area’s on-going regeneration. However, this need must be addressed responsibly and in a way that benefits Vale residents, and not property developers.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The appeal was lodged before the determination of the second planning application by the Council but a recommendation of refusal was supported by the Vale of Glamorgan Planning Committee on grounds that the development was clearly contrary to the adopted Unitary Development Plan, would impact upon the existing Green Wedge between Barry and Rhoose, would lead to a coalescence of settlements, failed to mitigate against the increase in traffic created and it was premature in advance of the adoption of Deposit Draft Local Development Plan. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

An initial planning application submitted in 2013 was also appealed by the applicant in 2014 but withdrawn before a decision could be made. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​