Work starts on controversial Barry housing scheme (From Barry And District News)

Work starts on controversial Barry housing scheme

12:20pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in News

WORK on a controversial housing scheme - which a planning inspector upheld on appeal - has begun in Barry.

Residents fought a 20- year campaign against development on land at, and adjoining White Farm, in Merthyr Dyfan, Barry. They expressed concerns about the number of homes and the risk of flooding.

But a two-day public inquiry in April last year rejected the Vale Council planning committee’s decision, in July 2011, to oppose the Persimmon Homes development originally submitted in January 2010.

Persimmon Homes said work began in mid February on the new open space with housing construction beginning in May.

Managing director for Persimmon Homes East Wales, Steve Williams said: “We hope to have a showhome available in July or August with first occupations during the autumn.

“We will be completing all of the open space works either side of the ‘Coldbrook’ this year which includes landscaping, footpaths, a pond and a play area.”

Around 11 acres will be dedicated for the local community, with flood prevention works and “an element” of affordable housing included.

Mr Williams added hedges would be moved from the site reused on the open space to preserve the existing grassland.

The public right of way through the open space will be made more formal therefore allowing more people to use it and a cycle-way provided along the boundary between the new development and the open space, forming a link between Whitewell Road and Merthyr Dyfan Road.

One-bed apartments along with two, three and four-bedroom terraced, semi and detached homes will be constructed with two ‘Local Areas of Play’ (LAPs).