PLANS to build 212 homes on the paper mill site in Sudbrook have been approved by Monmouthshire County Council’s (MCC) planning committee.

A total of 192 market houses and 20 affordable homes will now be built on the site.

A similar application was refused by MCC last November as the plans contained no affordable housing.

The application approved yesterday (7th June), altered to the one refused last November, was originally submitted as an outline planning application in 2012 which was refused by MCC.

The paper mill site at Sudbrook has been allocated in the Local Development Plan (LDP) as a strategic housing site.

The market properties will comprise 10 two-bed houses, 105 three-bed houses and 77 four-bed houses. They will be a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced properties.

The affordable units will comprise eight two-person flats, 10 two-bed houses and two three-bed houses.

A play area will be built at the centre of the development along with a public amenity space.

The plans have been approved subject to a Section 106 agreement.

MCC’s education department voiced concerns over the capacity of neighbouring primary schools meaning a section 106 contribution of £439,286 needs to go into Archbishop Rowan Williams Primary School to provide additional capacity.

The new Caldicot School building has been designed with surplus capacity as the LDP was factored in when designing the school.

The developer has agreed to contribute £46,858 for the provision of an onsite play area and a £50,000 contribution towards community facilities at one or more of several priority projects. These include The Cornfield Project, The Quest, Sudbrook play park, Portskewett Heritage Club and Sudbrook Non Political Club.

£200,000 will be used to prime a new bus service for Sudbrook for three years along with a contribution of £10,000 provided for information travel packs. £159,531 will also be adopted by MCC for an on-site public open space.

In total, £842,770 will be poured into the area.

County councillor for Portskewett, Peter Fox, voiced his concerns prior to the plans being approved.

He said: “We all recognise that something has to happen at the paper mill site.

“The previous applications have lacked any provision for affordable housing, so I am pleased that this has been addressed now.

“However, my fundamental concerns about large levels of development at this site remain.

“I am extremely concerned over the number of houses proposed and the poor access which has to be gained via the single lane, lit for traffic bridge.

“This is the only vehicular access to Sudbrook.

“The proposed number of houses will generate probably more than 1,500 additional vehicle movements a day across the bridge and through the hugely congested Portskewett village centre.”

“I have always been disappointed that various consultants and highway experts believe that the access and congestion issues are not a significant consideration here.

“Those of the community who will live with these pressures know differently.

“The fact is the current highway infrastructure in the centre of Portskewett and the access to Sudbrook are not suitable to the additional pressures we can expect.

“I have tried for many years to get acknowledgment and action to create another access to Sudbrook which could alleviate the access issues and allow a sustainable highway solution for the village.

“I still believe this achievable and will continue to work toward this.

“There will be many other pressures faced by this level of development especially when coupled with the 250 plus houses proposed for the Crick Road site.”

There were also concerned raised around education capacity and the capacity of other local services.

The plans were approved by MCC’s planning committee 10 votes to one.