MONMOUTHSHIRE council had to find space to build an extra 900 homes in the county, after a planning inspector warned that its building target until 2021 of 4,000 homes in too low.

The full council spent seven hours debating a revised plan to allocate extra homes on nine existing sites at its headquarters near Usk on Thursday.

The council’s planning team had to rethink current plans for the Local Development Plan after being forewarned of the problem and identify extensions to already earmarked sites or finding newones to cope with the shortfall.

The LDP has already caused conflict among councillors. Last July they spent 14 hours arguing over which sites should be used.

The council’s deputy leader, Cllr Bob Greenland told members: “We have to decide where these 900 homes go, if we do not they (the inspector and Welsh Government) will do it for us.”

After hearing emotive pleas from each ward member, the council voted on each site and supported extra homes on eight of the nine sites.

They rejected an extra 80 homes on Wonastow Road, Monmouth, following a plea from Cllr Bob Hayward, who said that Monmouth has already been allocated 827 new homes which is more that 10 per cent of the total housing stock.

He said: “This will absolutely break the camel’s back.

Monmouth is already taking more than its fair share.”

Cllr Alan Wintle said he was astounded the site was being considered as it is prone to flooding.

Cllr Jessica Crook and Cllr Frances Taylor criticised the proposal to make Undy take the biggest number out of the 900 new houses, with 225 homes on Vinegar Hill and another 70 at Rockfield Farm failed as members voted in support of the site.

Cllr Crook said there is pressure on Undy already and more development is ‘unacceptable’.

A revised report will be examined by the inspector before consultation begins. A final decision is expected later this year.

Proposed development sites

THE nine proposed sites for development in Monmouthshire were:

  • 80 homes at Wonastow Road, Monmouth
  • 110 homes at Fairfield Mabey, Chepstow
  • 35 homes at Crick Road, Portskewett
  • 70 homes at Rockfield Farm, Undy
  • 225 homes on land at Vinegar Hill, Undy
  • 190 homes on the former Paper Mill site at Sudbrook
  • 25 homes on land to the south of School Lane, Penperlleni
  • 45 homes on land at Chepstow Road, Raglan
  • 60 homes at Coed Glas, Abergavenny