Monmouth town planners will be looking at whether to recommend approval or refusal for outline planning permission for 180 houses on land east of Rockfield Road at their next meeting on Monday 2nd December.

The case file is 00834 and proposes a public open space stretching as far as the banks of the River Monnow, with the possibility of a second footbridge crossing close to the north of Monnow Keep.

The proposed Taylor Wimpey homes will be kept to the north and west area of the 18 hectare site, and extend from Rockfield Road towards the Territorial Army Centre, with the main access opposite Rockfield Avenue and is intended as "an alternative to, or in addition to, the allocation at Wonastow Road".

The planning statement suggests a mix of nine two-bed flats, 18 two-bed houses, 90 three-bed dwellings and 63 four-bed dwellings within two distinct areas; formal and farmstead courtyard.

Future phases of the plan will include another 180 homes to the north of the site and the opportunity to develop the poultry sheds site for small scale start-up, studio or workshop employment.

A planning application on the poultry houses surrounded by the site was submitted in 2004 with a proposed change of use to office use, but was refused by Monmouthshire County Council with reasons that it was out of character with the area and inadequate car parking and possible overloading of the sewage network.

A subsequent application for two dwellings on the site of the existing bungalow in 2007 was also refused. An appeal was made and was granted.

Other ongoing planning applications are for 145 dwellings at Rockfield Road West (case file 0576) and for 370 homes on land at Wonastow Road (00368).