Following overwhelming objection to the planning proposal submitted by Hafod Housing to convert the old Girls’ Grammar School site on Aberthin Road, Cowbridge, reports have emerged that Hafod Housing are in the process of negotiating with the Planning Department regarding the size, scale and design of their proposal.
Although the original proposal of 48 residential units may be amended, the local residents group still feel it will represent an excessive development.
The Aberthin Road and Millfield Drive Residents Group has been working with the community in Cowbridge to gather opposition to the plans. The Group’s petition of objection, on the basis that the development is excessive and out of character for Cowbridge, has reached nearly 2,400 signatures and over 1,300 residents have also registered formal objections through the Council’s planning department.
A spokesperson for the group commented, “We’re glad that the Planning Department has recognised that the original plans are completely unacceptable. We are grateful to everyone who signed the petition and wrote to the Council, as this has forced amendments to be made. However, we remain concerned that any new plans will only represent minor changes and will still be unacceptable. This means that it’s really important for the community to stay on top of this application and object again should the plans still fail to comply with the Council’s Local Development Plan which calls for 20 residential units on this site.”
The next step for the residents group will be to hold a public meeting, chaired by Vale MP Alun Cairns and their local Councillors, to update residents on the latest proposals and the action that residents need to take.
Mr Cairns said, “It’s part of the planning process that amendments will be made as the application progresses, with the applicant responding to the comments of and feeling within the community. This shows how vital it is to submit comments to the Council. Residents need to be prepared for what comes next and that is why I will be speaking to residents at a public meeting to ensure that everything is done to stop inappropriate development from being passed.”
