Councillors approve plans for flats to be sold to council

PLANS to build a three-storey block of flats have been given the seal of approval by councillors.

A planning application for 10 one-bedroom flats and one studio flat next to Y Fron guesthouse in Pwllypant was submitted to Caerphilly County Council by Lilyalex Properties, which runs the neighbouring guesthouse which is now a House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO).

Associated support accommodation, a nine-space car park and a green roof are also included as part of the development.

Planning officer Anthony Pyne told the planning committee on July 14 that the applicant intends to offer the accommodation to Caerphilly Keys, which is a branch of the council. Therefore, Lilyalex Properties will sell the flats to the council for £49,069 each once they are built.

All of the flats will be classed as affordable housing, meaning they are below market value.

Speaking on behalf of the applicant, planning agent Catrin Oliver-Thomas said the development addresses the demand for self-contained move-on accommodation.

Up to 21 people could be living in the proposed block, next to the A469.

Llanbradach and Pwllypant Community Council objected to the application due to concerns about highway safety with the expected increase in traffic.

The community council also objected because of overdevelopment of the site.

At the planning committee meeting, Plaid Cymru councillor for Llanbradach and member of the community council, Colin Mann, spoke against the application.

He said: “I realise in planning terms that this is probably very acceptable, but there are issues I think should be brought to the committee.”

Cllr Mann added that the “insufficient parking”, noise levels and the maintenance of the historic viaduct were his main concerns.

The council’s heritage and placemaking officer said: “This building will help to tie in Y Fron and the viaduct across the property.”

Two residents objected to the plans citing existing anti-social behaviour issues at Y Fron as their main concern.

The site isn’t allocated for any purpose in the Local Development Plan (LDP), but in the council’s report presented to the committee it is described as a “relatively underutilised piece of land”.

The report adds that one-bedroom flats are in demand in the Caerphilly basin.

Members of the planning committee deferred the decision while a Section 106 agreement is confirmed.