THE LATEST plans for one of the biggest housing developments in recent years in Penarth - the Penarth Heights regeneration project - were unveiled last week.

The developer Crest Nicholson, the firm that built Penarth Marina, will submit a planning application to the Vale of Glamorgan Council this week to redevelop the Billybanks site.

The plans went on public display at the Washington Gallery last week.

The main changes to the original plans - following consultation with the local community - are: l a reduction in the number of housing units from 450 to 377 l apartment blocks in the Arcot Triangle will be removed to leave one low-rise block l more large family houses as a percentage of the total housing mix Crest Nicholson acknowledges that the scheme will result in a significant increase in traffic and has made money available to the Vale of Glamorgan Council to offset the scheme's impact.

The amount of money the Vale Council will receive from the developer has yet to be confirmed, and what that money will be spent on has yet to be decided - but some potential schemes have already been identified by the Council.

The Vale Council will also look to improve community facilities with money provided by Crest and has undertaken initial feasibility work on converting St Paul's Church into a multi-use community centre.

Cllr Lis Burnett said she was "encouraged" by the revised plans.

She said: "The two main priorities with regard to impact on the community are providing community facilities and the traffic issue. I think we have made good progress on the community facilities.

"We can't expect the Penarth Heights project to solve Penarth's traffic problems."

Cllr Anthony Ernest said: "I don't really see this as 400 new units as the development is only replacing the Billybanks. I think the Vale Council should make sure it secures enough money, but not necessarily spend it in advance of the completion of the site.

"Let's see what impact it has before spending to resolve traffic problems."

The demolition of the Billybanks buildings will commence once the site has planning permission and all remaining residents have vacated. Demolition work will be carried out in a single phase and will take about four months.

Construction of the new development will then take around five years to complete.

The developer said noise and dust will be controlled by a range of means in accordance with health and safety regulations.

Some 20 percent of the properties will be for rent or shared ownership.

These will be managed by United Welsh Housing Association. It is likely that residents will be nominated by the council off their housing waiting list.

Crest is required to submit a public art strategy with their planning application.

A lead artist and steering group will be appointed to formulate the strategy and commission works of art.

The Arcot Triangle is one area which could be used to locate some works of art.

Although not part of the development site itself, Crest Nicholson has also been asked by the Vale Council to look into improving Plassey Square children's playing facilities.