NEWPORT council has objected to a raft of sites being included in Cardiff’s blueprint for the next 13 years – reiterating that the green gap between the two cities must be maintained.

The authority has said that several of the proposed alternative sites proposed for Cardiff council’s local development plan were within an area that the city had requested be allocated as green belt.

Officers have argued that proposed residential and business developments in and around St Mellons would harm the strategic gap between the two cities.

Newport council has long called for a green belt easy of land proposed for housing in Pontprennau, north east Cardiff, saying the gap would retain the strong identities of the two cities.

That proposal has itself been included in the register of alternative sites – proposals from individuals and organisations for sites to be included, changed or removed from the LDP.

The Argus reported in December that Newport council had argued the overall LDP was unsound, saying a shortage of gipsy and traveller accommodation could lead to unauthorised camps in Newport.

A Newport council report shows that the council has called for a site south of St Mellons Business Park to be used for employment to be deleted as this would harm the openness of the strategic gap.

The same reason was cited for objections to the inclusion of proposed residential sites at Ty’r Winch Road, Pwll Coch and Druidstone Road, as well as an objection to proposed residential, business, tourism and leisure uses at Blooms Garden Centre, St Mellons.

All the sites objected to are within the proposed green belt suggested by Newport.

The consultation response to the LDP has been approved by cabinet member for regeneration and development Cllr John Richards.

Cardiff Council’s deposit LDP aims to deliver 41,100 new homes and create 40,000 new jobs by 2026.