THE agricultural tenant of ground to the west of Garthi Close in Mitchel Troy has been given notice following an application to build houses on the site.

Monmouthshire Housing Association has put plans before Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) (DC/2014/ 00126) to build six five-person affordable homes and two three-person affordable homes on land owned by The Church in Wales.

Access to the site is 'highly likely' to be via Garthi Close as an extension to the existing access from the main road.

Car parking will be provided on the basis of one space per bedroom and cycle spaces will be provided for each house, although the finalised details are "not know at this point".

The Design and Access Statement said: "The applicants have been advised unequivocally by the senior officers in the MCC Housing and regeneration team that Mitchel Troy has a dearth of affordable housing and a particularly high local need."

The application was subject to informal pre-application discussions between members of the development team and an MCC Planning officer and ecologist. The discussions related to the principle of residential development on the site.

The application has received mixed views from the local community, with some saying that more houses are needed and others objecting strongly to the extra houses overlooking the present residences and pointing out that a number of underground streams are present in the area.

Online comments have already been made noting disappointment that no prior consultation had been made with the residents, despite the county housing strategy having had an adequate forum.

Another concern was that the roads and pavements could not sustain the extra traffic, especially during construction with no safe passage for pedestrians to the village, especially children walking to and from transport to school.

One objector noted: "The environmental impact of such a development could also be significant. There is no gas supply to that area and telecommunications at best are poor.

"The development seems ill thought out and due to the lack of transparency and consultation, will prove to be a development which will have no local support and should be withdrawn until there has been adequate consultation."

Another online objector said: "Previous applications have been declined in the past in this area.

"There are limited amenities to support new proposed dwellings in the village and surrounding area."

It is believed some of the houses will be for sale and some for rent.