Up to 60 houses could be built on a south-facing plot of land in Upper Brynamman, Carmarthenshire. Outline plans have been submitted to the county council for a development off Cwmgarw Road. The greenfield site slopes down towards a cycle path and the River Amman, with the houses to be accessed from beside The Tregib Arms, Cwmgarw Road. Just under a mile to the north of the site is Brecon Beacons National Park.
A planning statement submitted on behalf of the applicants showed a scheme comprising three sections, a mix of different house types and several trees. Some properties would be classed as affordable. The development, it said, would provide much-needed housing on a suitable site and would not cause privacy issues for adjacent householders. It added that the site was allocated for housing under Carmarthenshire Council's local development plan.
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An accompanying transport assessment said traffic generated by the development would not have a detrimental impact on nearby roads, and that a direct link between the estate and the cycle route to the south was proposed. Some people have already objected to the application, saying it would have a detrimental impact on nearby homes and services.
Objector Huw Griffiths said he hoped that any final decision would respect the character and identity of the village. "I chose to settle here not just because of family connection but because of the quiet rural location and unspoiled green spaces," he said.
Another objector said local services were stretched and that there had been 12 accidents on Cwmgarw Road in the last 10 years, some of them serious. A third objector, Julie Rodway, said people needed homes but "not at such a cost". She added: "The location of such a large development in the peaceful river valley is not in the right place."
Natural Resources Wales (NRW), which has been consulted, said existing trees and hedges on the boundary of the proposed site - plus two large trees within it - would help integrate the properties when viewed from the south. It added that the development was unlikely to have an adverse visual impact on the national park.
If the outline scheme is approved, a reserved matters - or detailed - application would need to be approved by the council before any construction work got under way. To get more Carmarthenshire stories straight to your inbox, subscribe to our dedicated weekly newsletter here.
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