Permission granted for £1.5m council housing project, despite objections
PLANNING permission has been granted to build a block of 12 council flats in Barry.
The affordable one-bedroom flats will be built between Winston Road and Keats Way, Colcot on the site of a former health clinic, which will be demolished.
Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Building Services, Coun Margaret Wilkinson, said: “The development of the former Colcot Clinic site is another example of our commitment to provide council housing for residents.
“The scheme will create a safe environment, near local amenities, providing residents with a strong sense of community.
“It is important to us to offer residents quality housing and pleasant living spaces that are built with sustainability and green values in mind.”
The new building will be contemporary in appearance, flat roofed, with balconies, large open-plan kitchen/living rooms and a ‘green wall’ of vegetation to the front.
The council says the flats will be built using sustainable methods and feature energy efficient heating, solar panels and rainwater harvesting.
It will be served by 12 resident-only parking spaces.
The project has, however, faced some opposition from local residents.
Four objections were received by the planning officer on the grounds of increased anti-social behaviour, loss of views from their home, lack of parking and traffic congestion.
Conservative Councillor for the Dyfan ward, Coun Leighton Rowlands, voted against the application.
“Residents and myself feel it’s an overdevelopment of the site and it doesn’t really fit in with the surrounding area.
“It will increase the traffic on that road, which is already high, particularly around school time. I will always oppose inappropriate overdevelopment in Barry.”
Barry Town Council made no objections to the project.
The project is in line with the Vale’s Council’s affordable housing strategy.
The council’s 2019 Local Housing Market Assessment determined that 890 additional affordable housing units were required each year to meet housing needs in the area, with Barry being one of the areas in most need.
The council’s Homes4U waiting list shows there are 146 people waiting for one-bed flats in the Dyfan ward of Barry, where the new project is located.
This scheme follows a similar development at Llys Llechwedd Jenner, while there are others in the pipeline at Hayes Road and Hayeswood Road in Barry.
