THE proposed luxury hotel and spa planned for Hadnock Road has been refused by Welsh Government ministers despite overwhelming local support.

Plans for the premium leisure and wellness hotel and spa at the Valley Enterprise Park have been on the table for nearly three years, and despite unanimous approval by Monmouthshire County Council’s planning committee in October 2016, the Welsh Government saw fit to take the application out of the council’s hands the following month.

The hotel and spa application would have created the equivalent of more than 150 full-time jobs, as well as a significant tourism boost for town.

The proposal would also have transformed the derelict 11 acre industrial site which has been unoccupied for more than nine years.

Welsh ministers concluded that the primary reason for the refusal was that the 60-bed hotel was a ‘highly vulnerable development’ and should not be permitted in a flood zone.

Supporters of the build have argued that ministers should have deemed the benefits to outweigh the flood risks highlighted by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), which too is based on Hadnock Road, despite having flexibility to do so.

The Flood Response Plan put forward by developers Alchemy Hospitality Management Ltd was not accepted at an informal hearing held in May, where plans were put forward to trigger an early warning system in line with a NRW-confirmed 13 hour window of notice in the event of a flood in Monmouth.

Building plans were also altered to raise floor levels and create outdoors drainage areas.

Residents around the site have received word from the developers since the decision, which claims that the Welsh Government cites ‘a risk to life from flooding’ in their correspondence regarding the refusal.

The site on Hadnock Road does go against national planning policy in Wales for new developments to avoid flood-prone areas. The entirety of the site is within a Zone C2 flood area, which means the development is categorised as ‘highly vulnerable.’

The criteria used in Welsh planning policy means developments would need to remain flood water-free in what is described as a ‘one in 100 year’ event, while also allowing for a 20 per cent increase in water due to climate change and an 80 per cent blockage of one of the Wye Bridge’s five arches.

Under this criteria, the floor levels of the hotel would be 360mm above flood water, but the car parks and interior roads would be inundated with flood water.

The floor levels of the hotel would also be 190mm above a one in 1,000-year event.

Jan Kitcher, Development Team Lead for the Hotel and Spa said: “We are obviously extremely disappointed that the Welsh Government has now refused an outline planning application which could also have transformed the derelict brownfield industrial site and moved Hadnock Road away from its industrial past to a more positive future. It is also very disappointing for local residents and businesses in Monmouth and the surrounding area, that a very significant and positive employment and economic opportunity has now been lost.

“The minister’s decision is final, and whilst we remain committed to finding a sustainable use for the derelict site, any future proposal will not include the ‘vulnerable hotel’ which was the key element of the proposed development; whilst the destination spa, mixed use element and energy centre are not classed as vulnerable.

“I’d like to thank Monmouth’s Chamber members for their ongoing enthusiasm, interest and support for the hotel and spa application, and of course, David Cummings as chairman for his significant and extensive local knowledge, practical advice and support, right from the very early days of the hotel and spa project.”

The only other option available left is to apply to the High Court for a judicial review but Alchemy has decided to avoid this expensive route and so this means an end to the hotel element of the plan.