03/19/2024

Wales News Online

Local & National News for Wales

PLANS for up to 210 houses and flats at Llanelli’s North Dock have been approved, but only on the proviso that road improvements are carried out nearby.
Carmarthenshire Council’s planning committee inserted the road improvement condition, and then approved the outline application for the housing development.

Highways officers said the council was separately preparing various options to improve traffic flow along Sandy Road, or A484, which lies to the north of the North Dock development site.

And these options will go out to public consultation.

Cllr Kevin Madge said he felt “we are putting the cart before the horse” by having to determine an application which would increase traffic levels before knowing for certain what road improvements would be made.

And he described the proposed £35,000 contribution from the proposed housing scheme towards highways as “peanuts”.

Cllr Madge also said he was worried that the coastal development could experience flooding in years to come due to climate change.

Cllr John James agreed, saying he was worried the committee was not able to make “an informed decision” and that the £35,000 sum was a “drop in the ocean”.
But his proposal to defer determining the scheme was defeated.

The committee was told that another highways contribution was coming via the £200 million Llanelli Wellness Village scheme, and that the wellness village would not go ahead without improvements to the Sandy Road roundabout.

The council would also apply for road improvement funding from the Welsh Government.

A highways officer said: “There are different pots of money for the (Sandy Road) corridor. Improvements to the corridor are going to happen, regardless of this development.”

The application site for the 210 houses flats is immediately north of the Pentre Doc Y Gogledd housing development, incorporates the former Pontrillas factory, and is not in a flood risk zone.

The scheme has been put forward by Carmarthenshire Council, which will be required to contribute £388,000 towards education improvements and create a public open space on site.

The council will also ensure that 20% of the new properties – details of which will be submitted as part of a reserved matters application – are affordable.

Cllr Joseph Davies requested the planning condition ensuring that road improvements take place, and this was accepted by planning officers and then approved by the committee.

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