DISAPPOINTMENT has been expressed after a plan for one of the "largest housing developments in recent years" in Dinas Powys was approved.

The Vale council voted in favour of the application from United Welsh Housing Association for the 70 houses adjacent to Caerleon Road at a planning committee held on Thursday, January 14.

The aim is for 40 per cent of the development to be designated as 'affordable housing' in what is being described by local councillors as the largest housing development in the village for many years.

But they have expressed their concern at the traffic issues the housing will cause in the area as well as the fact the proposed site lies in the green wedge between Penarth and Dinas Powys and in a C2 flood risk zone.

Vale of Glamorgan and Dinas Powys Community Councillor, Chris Franks said: "The extra traffic created by the additional 70 houses will cause even more congestion and hazards at the Tesco junction and at the Murch Road and Cardiff Road traffic signals.

"We warned when the Local Development Plan was approved that road issues could not be resolved.

"However the Vale assured everyone that adequate improvements were possible.

"Now the truth is out and there are no road improvements. That is because nothing is possible."

Dinas Powys Community Council objected in principle to any further housing allocations being made in Dinas Powys until the necessary feasibility study of the highways and transport network was undertaken.

They said that there are already major highways and transport problems along the A4055 corridor through Dinas Powys and the existing Cardiff Road and Murch Road junction is already over-capacity.

Richard Mann, director of development for United Welsh Housing Association said: “Since the start of the project we have worked closely with land owners and partners. We consulted with the public and the relevant authorities to consider the traffic implications.

"As a result, we will develop a detailed plan which will be submitted to the local authority for approval which will consider traffic calming measures.

“As an experienced housing provider, we understand the importance of developing homes that complement the values of the local area."

But Independent councillor Chris Williams said he was "disgusted" by the decision to approve the plan.

He commented: "I don't feel the highways team have overcome the issues that exist at the Tesco junction in the plan. The Barry to Cardiff road is busy enough already."

But Marcus Goldsworthy, Head of Regeneration and Planning, said that the proposed development, has been fully assessed by the council including any impacts on the highway and green wedge which were addressed in the report presented to planning committee.

He also said that the Green Wedge Background Paper which supports the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Draft Local Development Plan, identifies the removal of some designated green wedges and the Caerleon Road site is in one such area due to be removed.