AN Abergavenny society has described a proposal to demolish a Victorian house to make way for a new housing development as a ‘lost opportunity’.

The Abergavenny and District Civic Society said demolishing the house known as ‘The Firs’ – which is one of six former council buildings on the former Register Office site on land off Coed Glas Lane –would be a lost opportunity to use the Victorian house and trees as distinctive features or focal points.

The developer, nowyourhome, bought the site from Monmouthshire council in 2014 and lodged an application to build 51 homes. The proposal, which is supported by planning officers, would include 18 affordable homes, made up of between one and four-plus bedroom homes. A play area and landscaped areas of open space are also included in the proposal.

The empty buildings that would be demolished include The Firs, a two-storey building – which is not listed nationally by Cadw or the county council – a four-storey office complex building, and two detached buildings. The buildings were previously used as the former Children Service Office and the Register Office.

The Abergavenny and District Society believes that consideration should be given to the case for listing The Firs and possibly the attached modern buildings.

In its objection to the council the group said: ‘Even if Listing is not an option, the planning authority should require the conversion of all or some of these buildings to residential use to be the preferred option of the site’s developer.’

The Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust said whilst it has no objection on archaeological grounds, The Firs is of historical importance and recommends a condition requiring a survey of the building is made prior to work.

Three letters of objection have been lodged by nearby residents raising concerns about the effect on wildlife and that it could encroach onto a small turning circle at the top of Coed Glas Lane. They also fear the development will create a choke point at the access where three streams of traffic will meet and that due to the gradient of the road further traffic-calming measures may be needed.

The application is due to be considered by the planning committee on May 3.