COUNTY Council planners approved outline plans yesterday (6th June) for up to 266 houses and business space at Rockfield Farm in Undy.

The development is of a 13.8 hectare greenfield site located on the northern side of Undy between Rockfield Grove housing estate and the M4 motorway. The application includes 5,572 square metres of employment space, and proposes that 25 per cent of the houses would be affordable housing (67 houses).

The site was one of seven strategic development sites highlighted as part of Monmouthshire County Council’s Local Development Plan.

The master plan ensures the potential M4 Relief Road will not be impacted by the development, and primary access to the site would be taken from the B4245 through a new priority T junction. A new local link road would be built within the development, which would lead into the adjoining development site at Vinegar Hill. Pedestrian links are proposed to lead to The Elms to the south and the play area at Rockfield.

53 letters of objection to the development were received, with many existing residents citing the negative affect on existing infrastructure in Undy and Magor, including the provision of primary school spaces and public transport.

Magor with Undy Community Council recommended refusal, arguing there are “no more facilities now than there were 30 or 40 years ago when the population was closer to 400”, and that “both the Magor and Undy Primary Schools are full to capacity.”

Speaking at the meeting, county councillor Lisa Dymock echoed resident’s concerns about a lack of facilities in the area, stating that for the Severnside area the average bus journey time “to get to a leisure centre is 41 minutes.” She said a roundabout instead of a T-junction would be preferred to calm traffic on the B4245.

The report seen by the planning committee acknowledges the “local concerns” about the development, but that proposed Section 106 contributions would help deliver improved facilities in the area.

Proposed contributions include £175,000 for equipped play areas, £800,000 towards the community hub project at the Three Fields site, £200,000 towards the delivery of the Magor and Undy station, and £70,000 towards the Magor/ Undy to Rogiet footpath. The plans were recommended for approval by the planning officer.