A HOUSING development at Crick Road has generated a response from more than 100 residents.

The 11 hectare site, bordered by the B4245 and Crick Road, has been allocated for residential and employment use in the council’s adopted Local Development Plan (LDP), which allows for the development of around 285 homes, together with amenity open space and one hectare for employment use.

Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) is in the early stages of preparing a plan to guide development, which will address matters such as design layout, access, pedestrian, cycle and vehicle routes, open space, landscaping and link to the wide community.

Four public engagement events hosted by MCC to provide the opportunity to guide development of the site attracted 118 residents. As a result, 115 feedback forms were received following the exercise held last May.

Residents voiced their opinions on the environment and as many as 84 per cent were keen to retain trees and hedges while nearly seven out of 10 identified the provision of woodland as an important feature of the allocated open space. Half of all respondents selected energy efficiency as the most important sustainability measure while a similar number identified a need for open space, better connections within the site and local facilities for those on foot.

Office accommodation was the most favoured form of employment provision for the site but some respondents queried any necessity because of nearby industrial and business units.

The impact of vehicles was an issue for many with 62 per cent calling for traffic calming measures. In addition, people were concerned about the effect on local roads arising from development of the former Paper Mill in the neighbouring village of Sudbrook.

Additional comments focused on the capacity of schools and nursery provision, the design and appearance of new homes, the type and location of affordable housing, the protection of wildlife, a lack of local shopping facilities and surface water run-off.

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 development visit the council website on: www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/crick-road-development-site