A PLAN to build 15 houses on a greenfield site on the approach to the village of Dingestow has been approved without any objections.

Monmouthshire Housing Association (MHA) applied in July 2018 to build four two-bedroom homes, five three-bed units and six four-bedroom houses on land close to the A40 underpass and held consultations in village halls.

Mitchel Troy Community Council recommended approval but highlighted some concern that the application showed false (and unusable) chimneys but made no provision for the photo voltaic (PV) panels that MHA has retrofitted on other local properties, raising questions about the type and affordability of heating projected for these properties.

Nine of the houses are affordable units comprising terraced and semi-detached units and the six private units are detached units. All units are two storey in height.

Single and double garages will serve the private units and reflect the traditional proportions as the proposed dwellings.

Dingestow is one of the main villages as defined in the Local Development Plan and therefore allows provision for small settlements such as this, despite the village having limited facilities and is not considered a sustainable location for walking, cycling and public transport and is very much reliant on the car for all work and domestic trips.

MCC planning officers requested that the Cardiff agents look at providing real chimneys as opposed to artificial chimneys, due to a number of reasons, most significant being the additional construction costs.

It has been confirmed that MHA don’t provide solid fuel heating systems to avoid the risk/ liability of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Regarding the other point raised by the community council related to PV Panels - MHA confirmed that they intend to include PV panels on the social units but that on the low cost home ownership units and private units these would be made available as an added extra to purchasers.

This will result in lower heating/ running costs for the occupiers compared to older developments.

The units are not reliant on PV panels which are being being made optional to keep costs down.

But a condition has been imposed removing permitted development rights for solar panels as if retrofitted could be visually intrusive particularly on the front elevation, so whilst acceptable if done well, it still needs to be considered by the local planning authority.