Councillors to Decide on Plans for 338 New Homes in Welsh Village

Next week a group of councillors will make a decision that could change the face of a Welsh village.
On September 17 Vale of Glamorgan Council’s planning committee will decide whether or not to allow UK-housing giant Persimmon Homes to build more than 300 new homes and associated infrastructure in the village of Rhoose.
If approved the plans would see 338 homes, made up to two-storey houses with some small three-storey apartment blocks, being built on land north of the railway line in Rhoose.
According to the last census Rhoose only has a population of 6,778 people.
The plans have been opposed by Vale of Glamorgan councillor Samantha Campbell, who cited overdevelopment and lack of adequate local infrastructure such as shops and public transport to accommodate the new houses.
In her letter of objection to the council she wrote: “I fully understand that we need to progress but there is a firm difference between progress and overdevelopment.”
She continued: “I fully believe we cannot, in good conscience, allow this planning without a comprehensive plan on improved Rhoose infrastructure.
“We have oversubscribed doctors and dental practises, very limited and dated community facilities, massively overpopulated roads, limited shopping facilities, and very poor public transport.
“Before adding potentially 500 new residents we need to make Rhoose the best it can be for its current residents, which is currently not the case.”
The plans also received 55 objections from members of the public on similar grounds.
The proposal has been recommended for approval by the council’s planning officer albeit with some conditions.
These include 35% of the new build homes (119) being affordable homes and the developer paying £777,400 towards “sustainable transport improvements” as well as £425,880 towards “improvements to community facilities”, £2,175,069 to “address educational requirements arising from the development”, and £535,373 towards new or enhanced outdoor sports facilities.
This is in addition to paying 1% of the project’s budget towards “public art”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​