JUST six weeks after giving planning permission to a controversial business park at Model Farm, Rhoose, the Vale council has had second thoughts.
The news emerged in an email from Cllr Jonathan Bird, chair of the planning committee, which was sent to fellow councillors on Monday, 13th September.
He said: “Having taken external legal advice, the council has consented to quashing the planning permission, due to not having adequately dealt with the assessment of the need to disclose viability information within the officers report.”
The campaigning group that has been opposing the development, Vale Communities Unite Against the planned development of Model Farm (VCAMF), has been fundraising to meet the costs of a judicial review, but legal issues raised have been accepted by the council, although court action at a later date cannot be ruled out.
The campaign group, and others opposing the plan, have cited the Welsh Government’s declaration of a ‘climate emergency’ and the Vale Council’s declaration of a ‘nature emergency’ as reasons for stopping the development
Maxine Levitt of VCAMF announced the news to supporters, saying: “We are not only pleased, we are ecstatic! What a journey. This is but one hurdle and we will be ready for them next time!”
Legal and General are planning a business park on the farm. It was granted planning permission in July, but the decision was widely criticised for its environmental impact.
Cllr Bird’s reference to viability information relates to the developer’s likely profits, and therefore how much the Vale Council should be demanding in Section 106 cash to pay for infrastructure improvements.
A Vale Council spokesperson said: “The council has received a letter setting out the grounds for a judicial review application in relation to the planning approval granted for this development.
“Having considered the contents of that letter with its legal team, the council has agreed to consent to the application to quash its original decision.
“If the court approves the order quashing the original decision, the planning application will be returned to the council to redetermine following full consideration of all relevant matters.”
The news was welcomed by Welsh Tory leader Andrew R Davies, who is a ward councillor for Rhoose and a Senedd Member for South Wales Central.
He said: “The decision to grant permission at Model Farm was a betrayal of Rhoose and surrounding villages, so I am extremely pleased it has been quashed.
“But there are serious questions for the council to answer. Residents’ confidence in the process was already low and these significant errors will make it even more fragile.
“This decision proves the councillors who voted to turn down planning permission were absolutely right to do so. The council must reject the application when it comes back before the committee.”
Plaid Cymru Councillor Ian Johnson, a member of the planning committee who voted against the original proposals, said that the announcement had come out of the blue.
He said: “This has come as a complete surprise. I’ll expect to receive a full explanation of what has happened here and why this information was not disclosed at the time of the meeting in July. This was a controversial application which passed by just one vote.”
