AN APPLICATION to demolish the industrial buildings on Hadnock Road, formerly the site of Stelrads and Castle Corrugated has been submitted to Monmouthshire County Council (MCC).

The outline plan to build a 60 bed hotel and six apartments with spa at Valley Enterprise Park has a recommendation for refusal by MCC’s planning officer Craig O’Connor.

Despite the development providing significant employment and tourism benefits to the area and improving the visual appearance of the site, it was felt this was outweighed by the flood risk implications of the site.

The general public consensus is that approval of the application would result in increased employment to Monmouth, and would provide much needed accommodation for tourists visiting the town, an opinion backed up by the chamber of trade’s chairman, David Cummings who pointed out that there is ample notice of potential flooding in this area; a minimum of seven hours notice.

Councillors have considered that the proposed mitigation measures including raising the floor levels of the proposed buildings and associated parking areas of the site with the development of a detailed flood management plan would mitigate the potential flood risk to future occupiers and users of the site.

However, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) are of the view that the flood modelling is not conclusive and that there are outstanding questions of confidence over the results of the modelling, both of the level of flood risk on and off site.

The applicants, Alchemy Hospitality Management Ltd, do not agree with NRW’s conclusion and are of the view that they have evidenced that the proposed development will not result in additional flooding elsewhere.

There have been three letters of objection to the application and 86 letters of support.

Mr O’Connor concludes that the proposed development is not acceptable in terms of flood risk and the economic benefits of the proposed development do not outweigh the flood concerns: “This site is not suitable for highly vulnerable forms of development and accordingly, it is recommended that the application is refused”.

The plan will be discussed at Monmouthshire County Council’s planning meeting on Tuesday 4th October and a decision made by county councillors.