An action group is warning residents about the potential scale of new housing developments being suggested for Monmouth.

David Cummings of the Gateway to Monmouth Action Group expressed his concern over the number of candidate sites for housing and commercial development put forward under the Revised Local Development Plan for the period up to 2033.

As part of the replacement plan preparation process, Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) invited land-owners, developers and the public to put forward ‘candidate sites’ to be considered for development, redevelopment or protection in the Monmouthshire Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP).

Stage 1 of this process involved an initial call for candidate sites for a 16-week period from the 30th July 2018 to 19th November 2018.

The ‘Second Call’ for candidate sites took place alongside the consultation on the RLDP Preferred Strategy from July 5, 2021 to August 31, 2021.

The new Candidate Sites Register updates and replaces the register published after the initial call for candidate sites.

In 2019, the Beacon reported on the 220 candidate sites submitted to MCC from across the county for a range of uses, including residential, employment, (industrial and commercial) and recreation.

Mark Hand, then head of planning for MCC said that any submissions at this stage “were merely to assist the council in understanding what land is available from 2021, the end of the last plan, to 2033”

In 2012, David worked with then Councillor Bob Hayward on the sites under a previous Local Development Plan in discussions with local residents and said it was “important that residents of Monmouth and our new councillors know details of the RLDP as parts of it may impact on their daily life”.

Although it must be stressed that the register is for information purposes only and not a consultation document at this time.

66 hectares of land are proposed and with an average density of houses at 51 per hectare this would make a total of 3,360 houses, although David adds that not all sites would or could be developed, due to a number of factors such as siting on flood plains or proximity to water courses.

It comprises of some familiar areas where development may be taking place in the next 10 years.

JM Farms Ltd has proposed the roundabout site at the end of Dixton Road formerly owned by Tesco’s - described as vacant scrubland - for commercial development. There was strong opposition by residents of the town when first a McDonalds was suggested, then when the more recent application for a drive-thru Costa Coffee, Marston’s Pub and some bulk retail units were proposed.

It saw the first application on the site in September 1989 when outline permission was granted for a 40-bedroom hotel.

Three potential uses for the land are now proposed; roadside facilities, employment land or retail.

Opposite is a 12 hectare site running up to Hereford Road submitted for residential use with the potential for 600 new houses.

Monmouth Housing Association (MHA) have proposed a 3.8-hectare site off Hereford Road for social housing and two locations have been proposed for a new Dixton Doctor’s Surgery.

Morspan Pension Scheme has put forward the chicken shed site on Rockfield Road.

Monmouthshire County Council’s website states that It is important to note that the submission of a candidate site and its inclusion in the Register “should not be interpreted as a commitment that such sites will be taken forward into the Deposit RLDP”.

David added there are obvious concerns about “more houses with the demand this places on local schools, sewage systems and traffic levels.

“Also, environmental issues with loss of habitat and increased risk of flooding. These issues will be examined by MCC Development Planning when the developers submit detailed plans and by Natural Resources Wales. Of course, quality of life is a principle MCC must follow under the Wellbeing and Future Generations Act.

“I would recommend that residents familiarise themselves with the locations of Candidate Sites and the proximity to their property. Later, when more details of the proposed sites are available and they have been reviewed by the county council I would be happy to chair a meeting between the county council and concerned residents.”

These sites are available to view on the county council website at https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/app/uploads/2022/02/Monmouth.pdf