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Rhoose Point

Two local landowners are urging South Wales Land Development to join them in creating a comprehensive scheme to alleviate concerns caused by Taylor Wimpey’s proposed plans, which has resulted in over 230 objections from local people. 

The Hardy and Davies families, whose adjoining 30 acres of land is the subject of a planning application by Persimmon and Bellway Homes, is appealing to South Wales Land Development to collaborate with them to invest in solutions to address flooding problems and congestion issues in Rhoose.

The scheme by Persimmon and Bellway Homes (land to the East) to develop 350 new houses includes the creation of a new road that will provide access from Pentir Y De and a new sewage drainage system to Porthkerry pumping station. The sewage drainage system will accommodate the new homes from the eastern site and the 350 homes and the school on the site to the West.  There will also be a new surface drainage scheme which will divert water by gravity pipe direct to the sea and eliminate flooding from both development sites and the whole area.

However, the plans submitted by Taylor Wimpey for landowner South Wales Land Development (land to the West), has received a number of objections by the public due to the concerns that their proposed scheme will cause further congestion and flooding.

Network Rail has also objected to the South Wales Land Development plans due to concerns over diversion of the existing public footpath.

A fully approved gravity drainage system for the combined land to the West and East taking piped water out to sea was approved by the planning committee on the 1^st August 2014, demonstrating the need for a comprehensive scheme that will remove the issues of flooding in the whole area.

Despite attempts by the Hardy and Davies’ spokespeople, no approach has been made by the landowners or the developers for land to the West to join up the schemes.  South Wales Land Development has refused to speak to the Hardy and Davies families until a planning committee decision has been made on the Taylor Wimpey proposal.

If both developments do not join together and the Taylor Wimpey plans are agreed, it may cause issues for Rhoose residents as inadequate sole road access off Porthkerry Road will create unnecessary traffic congestion.  In addition, it could present major issues for residents in an emergency should this sole access be blocked as no alternative vehicular access is provided.

Further objections have been raised as the proposed surface water scheme by Taylor Wimpey is untested and could result in further flooding for Rhoose residents. There will also only be a pedestrian link between the school being built on land to the West and the recreational facilities on land to the East.  The Persimmon and Bellway Homes scheme provides the necessary vehicular and pedestrian access between the school and recreation facilities.

If the Taylor Wimpey scheme is agreed and access between the school and recreational facilities is required in the future, it will be a cost for the tax payer.

Mr Philip Thomas, spokesman for the landowners of the eastern development , said: “We strongly urge Taylor Wimpey and South Wales Land Development to join our comprehensive scheme which would provide a more accessible property development. We believe it is important to work together so that the development is as appealing as possible to future house buyers and causes minimum disruption to Rhoose residents.

“The site proposed by Taylor Wimpey and South Wales Land Development will most likely cause further congestion in an already busy area. We want to ensure our development helps the Rhoose residents by cutting down congestion and eliminate flooding, but we can only do this if the council and residents help us encourage Taylor Wimpey and South Wales Land Development to join our scheme and the council reject their proposals.

“We suggest that Rhoose residents contact their local councillors to express their concerns. Otherwise, the shortcomings of the Taylor Wimpey and South Wales Land Development scheme may result in costing the tax payer money – a situation which we are trying hard to avoid.”

A planning meeting will now be held on Thursday 12^th March where a decision will be made.