THIRTEEN new industrial units will be built on a Cwmbran estate after members of the planning committee approved plans after concerns over possible flooding were allayed.

Torfaen councillors voted unanimously in favour of the plans, which will see ‘small’ and ‘light’ units built on the Court Road industrial estate in Llantarnam.

Original plans were submitted in 2007, but as time passed, flood maps were updated and it was discovered that one of the blocks, unit five, fell within the flood zone on a re-submitted application.

The issue of flooding was brought up by two councillors – Blaenavon’s Stuart Evans and Barry Taylor from Snatchwood.

However, Torfaen planning officer Helen Smith confirmed that the plans from the fresh application had met the criteria set out by the drainage departments at Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Torfaen council.

“As part of this fresh planning application, they updated the flood consequence assessment as there had been flooding previously, since the original planning permission was granted,” she said.

“It is classed as ‘low vulnerable development’ which is industrial.

“As long as it is justified in terms of adequate flooding protection and flood emergency evacuation procedures are put into place and the fact that it’s on brownfield site, then it can be justified,” added Mrs Smith.

“Both the National Resources Wales and council’s drainage officers are satisfied that the risks are acceptable in this case.”

The 13 units will range from 4m to 5.5m in height, and since the original plans were submitted, new housing developments have sprung up around the industrial estate.

Cllr Nigel Davies from the Croesyceiliog North ward raised concerns about the aesthetic of the area, and if the new houses would be compromised by the development.

“When the houses were being developed, it’s a fairly new development, so were they aware that there was a possibility that this site might be developed for some sort of light industry,” he said.

Mrs Smith confirmed that any potential buyers to the properties should have been made aware of the possibility of a development but that it does not fall within the responsibility of the council to make anyone formally aware of plans in progress.