Homes possible at Coopers' site (From Free Press Series)

Homes possible at Coopers' site

THE new owner of the Coopers' factory site in Llanfoist wants to build more than 120 houses there.

Johnsey Estates has already submitted a planning application for a third of the 16-acre site, for a B&Q store and a garden centre, and is filing a traffic impact study, so the scheme can be determined by Monmouthshire County Council.

But it was not known what plans the developer had for the remaining 10 acres of the site, which has now been razed to the ground.

Last week it was rumoured the site was to be leased to the Heads of the Valleys Training Board, but this was dismissed by a company spokesman who confirmed talks were being held with the council about building houses there.

Monmouthshire's head of planning George Ashworth said officers had met the agent on site.

He said: "We have said the DIY store application will have to go through the same process as the Homebase scheme for Westgate Yard and Grove Farm, Llanfoist, and pointed out the difficulties of approving a DIY store when we have already given permission for the other one."

On the question of housing Mr Ashworth said the developer had been told the council had met its government housing target, so it would have to prove a need before planning permission would be given.

He explained: "The site is designated for employment in the Local Plan so the developer would have to prove there was no demand for the site for employment before it would be allowed to build houses.

"The principle of using land designated for employment for housing instead would set a precedent for future applications."

Mr Ashworth said the council guidlelines were for a housing density of 12 to 15 houses per acre and that 20 percent of affordable housing must be included in any scheme.

Local people say new houses would be welcome because it would strengthen their bid for a new school to be built in Llanfoist.