A 270 housing development at Undy has attracted more than 120 comments.

The site comprising open fields is located between the village of Undy and the M4 motorway to the north and has been allocated for residential and employment use in Monmouthshire County Council’s (MCC) adopted Local Development Plan (LDP).

The council is in the early stages of preparing a master plan to guide development, which will address matters such as design layout, access, routes for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles, open space plans, landscaping and links to wider community facilities.

The site is expected to provide 270 houses together with approximately five acres of employment land, as well as amenity open space and an enhanced financial contribution for the area’s community facilities.

According to MCC there is a need to safeguard a route for a potential Magor/Undy by-pass and allow for the possibility of an M4 relief road.

Four public engagement events hosted by MCC provided an opportunity for residents to discuss the issues.

As a result of these meetings 106 feedback forms were received following the exercise held in June.

Many residents called for better connections within the site, more open space and local facilities for those on foot.

The impact of vehicles caused concern among residents with 54 per cent calling for traffic calming measures and numerous people referring to the importance of the proposed by-pass to alleviate congestion on local roads. Some respondents identified the importance of railway links including the possibility of a new station at Magor.

61 per cent of residents were keen to retain existing trees and hedges and 53 per cent identified the provision of woodland as an important factor.

Additional comments focused on the capacity of schools and medical facilities, the design of homes and spaces and the retention of a village character as well as community facilities on site and the wider area.  73 per cent of people wished to see Section 106 contributions – money provided by developers towards local facilities – used to finance the proposed community hall for Magor with Undy.

County Councillor Phil Hobson, Cabinet member for community development, said: “I’d like to thank those residents who attended the engagement sessions and I’m grateful for their responses.  We will take this feedback on board for the next stages of the site development.”

 For further information about the site, visit: www.monmouthshire.gov.uk