THE controversial decision to approve a 350 house development in Sully has been blasted by politicians and local campaigners.

As the Penarth Times reported, the development - which will be built to the south of Cog Road - was given the green light by the Vale of Glamorgan council's planing committee last week despite formal objections being tabled by Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies, MP Stephen Doughty, and AM Vaughan Gething.

Local campaigners also signalled their opposition to the plans, which have been a bone of contention in the area since they were first submitted by Taylor Wimpey in December 2013.

Saving Sully protest group member Layla Attfield said this week the objections of residents had been ignored, while chairman of Sully and Lavernock Community Council, councillor Ian Barlow said he is "horrified" by the decision.

Vale councillor for Sully ward Bob Penrose also called in the application and moved for a deferral of the decision, but this was rejected.

"This is a very sad day for Sully and it shows that the Vale council cares not at all about the needs and wishes of the inhabitants of the village," he said.

"I have assured residents that Sully and Lavernock Community Council will continue to fight inappropriate and oversized proposed developments."

The community council and more than 400 residents had officially objected to the plans on the grounds including inadequate road structure and drainage, unsustainable development and visual impact.

South Wales Central regional AM Mr RT Davies said it highlighted serious failings in the planning set up nationally.

"This decision is another example of why the planning system needs a complete overhaul in Wales so it can address the genuine concerns of local residents," he added.

"It cannot be right the communities of Sully and Cosmeston have faced a continued barrage of large housing applications in recent years but yet the local authority pays little to no heed."

But he praised the work of the Saving Sully group adding: "We all appreciate houses need to be built for the future but it should not be at the expense of the character of our local communities."

As well as Cllr Penrose, fellow ward councillor Kevin Mahoney and community councillors Ian Barlow and Ken Jones have all also spoken out against the plans.

The development is included in the Vale of Glamorgan Council's local development plan (LDP) which requires the council to build around 10,000 homes in five years.

Vale head of planning Marcus Goldsworthy said that the council does take into account all the concerns of local residents but that the need for housing land supply was a key consideration and that highways and traffic management works would be undertaken to mitigate the impact of any increased traffic.

He also confirmed that a 40 per cent affordable housing promise had been made and that developers would be required to make financial contributions to the local community.