Planning & Environment Decisions Wales (DECW) – the Welsh planning inspectorate – has dismissed an appeal by a developer seeking to build homes on a former railway line (pdf).
Mulberry Homes (formerly known as Paddle Homes) submitted an application for 70 homes on a former railway cutting at Waunscil Avenue in 2021.
The plans would have also seen a walking/cycling route constructed along the former railway embankment adjoining Herbert Street, Vernon Street and the Meadows Estate.
The appeal was lodged because Bridgend Council didn’t make a decision before a statutory deadline (“non-determination”).
Despite being seen as a locally important “green barrier” between Bridgend town centre and Brackla, the former railway has been subject to similar proposals since the late 1980s. They’ve all either been rejected by Bridgend Council (or the former Ogwr Borough Council), or been thrown out on appeal.
Development doesn’t comply with national “placemaking” standards
The planning inspector dismissed concerns from BCBC’s planning department about drainage and the practicalities of the proposed walking/cycling route.
However, the inspector concluded the proposed development fails “to contribute to the creation of a mixed, socially inclusive, sustainable community” due to the poor mix of housing types and lack of affordable housing.
The inspector also concluded the proposed three-storey homes would be “unacceptably dominant” over bungalows at Chorleywood Close in Brackla.
Too few parking spaces; not enough information on junction impact
Although Mulberry Homes argued the number of parking spaces can be cut as the development is in a town centre/”sustainable” location, the inspector disagreed.
They concluded the number of parking spaces falls far short of the expected requirement and would likely result in “extensive indiscriminate and inappropriate parking”.
Additionally, there were no concerns about the impact on traffic along Waunscil Avenue. That said, not enough information was provided by Mulberry Homes to prove that the development wouldn’t impact the Coychurch Road/Cowbridge Road junction.
The inspector supported BCBC’s view that this would require further specialist work and the application, therefore, fails to comply with Bridgend Council’s highways guidance.
The developers have the option of challenging the decision in the High Court, but only have 42 days to make such an appeal and would need to prove that the planning inspector made an error in law.
