Plans for 90 homes likely to be given green light

Plans for 90 new homes on what Powys County Council defines as "open countryside" are likely to be given approval this week.

Two outline planning applications on land north and south of the A489 near Mochdre Brook near Newtown have been submitted by Melrose Developments of Shrewsbury.

One site contains outline plans for 60 homes, while one south of the main road is for 30 homes. They are close to the Glandulas caravan park and site of the Newtown bypass.

A report before councillors says the sites are a "departure from the adopted Powys Unitary Plan" and the area is defined as open countryside.

Mochdre Community Council has proposed the applications are rejected as "the proposed development is not of a scale, form and design and general character to reflect the overall appearance of the settlement and surrounding area."

But a planning officer has recommended approval.

“Having carefully considered the proposed development, Officers consider that the proposal broadly complies with planning policy. Whilst a departure from the development plan, in this instance, the provision of housing is considered to outweigh the plan and therefore justifies the grant of consent as an exception to normal housing policies. The recommendation is therefore one of conditional approval subject to conditions,” said the officer in the report.

The outline permission includes a 20 per cent allocation for affordable housing within the development.

Councillors will consider the report on Thursday.