Councillors have resolved to transform a village by building hundreds of new homes on its outskirts, though the plans ultimately might not come to light.
Vale of Glamorgan Council’s planning committee has voted to approve UK housing giant Persimmon Homes’ bid to build more than 300 new homes and associated infrastructure in Rhoose.
The plans are set to 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.
But this month the Welsh Government issued a holding direction over the plans. This means the local authority can only debate or refuse the application but cannot grant approval while Welsh ministers decide whether or not take the decision themselves.
While the council’s planning committee did vote to approve the application permission would only be granted if the ministers decided that the decision should stay with the local authority.
A long-time Rhoose resident, James Gill, spoke against plans for the development, saying he and other residents have “grown increasingly concerned about overdevelopment of the area”.
He went as far as to say “Rhoose is being abused” and claimed the council is using the area as a “dumping ground” for house-building to meet its housing quotas.
Ian Robinson, head of sustainable development for Vale Council, denied that Rhoose had been used as a “dumping area”
The plans were also opposed by Vale of Glamorgan councillor Samantha Campbell, who cited overdevelopment and lack of adequate local infrastructure to accommodate the new houses.
Before the committee she said the plans show a “lack of care and consideration about how this development will fit into Rhoose”.
Cllr William Hennessy also opposed the plans along similar lines, saying the new houses will “add pressure” to local infrastructure. He said this would affect “most residents” in the area.
Mr Robinson called Rhoose “one of the most sustainable settlements in the Vale” but did acknowledge that local services are “likely to be under pressure”.
During the debate, Cllr Anthony Ernest asked: “What will it bring to the village? What more will it bring to the village? Very little I would suggest.”
Cllr Mark Wilson raised the point that increased infrastructure has come as a result of development in Rhoose’s past and suggested local shops would welcome an increase in the number of residents.
According to the last census, Rhoose has a population of 6,778 people.
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