RESIDENTS of Raglan campaigning against a recently-approved housing development which could increase the size of the village by 30 per cent have been given a boost after Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) was told it must not allow it.

The development of 111 new homes on the edge of Raglan was met with widespread fears over its impact on the village, before it was approved last month.

Now, in a blow to the applicant, the council has been directed not to allow planning permission by the Welsh Planning Directorate’s head of planning decisions.

In a letter to MCC’s head of planning Mark Hand dated 27th November, Mr Davies said: “I am authorised by the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs to issue such directions and, in exercise of this authority, I hereby direct your council, with effect from the date of this letter, not to grant planning permission in respect of [the development of 111 homes and associated works] without the prior authorisation of the Welsh Ministers.

“The direction prevents your council only from granting planning permission; it does not prevent it from continuing to process or consult on the application,” he wrote.

It is not yet known if the application will be ‘called in’ by Welsh Government ministers.

Particular concerns have been raised over increased traffic and already-stretched resources such as doctors surgeries and schools, with Monmouth MP David Davies saying the development could “transform the village into a town.

“The situation with pedestrians in this location is already very dangerous and will no doubt worsen with an increase in the number of residents,” he added.

The plans, submitted by Richborough Estates, were submitted in March and, despite 190 letters of objection, including from the Woodland Trust and Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust, and a march of more than 100 people opposing the development, the new homes were approved by MCC’s planning committee on 6th November.