PLANS for 350 houses off Cog Road in Sully have been approved.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council Planning Committee approved the scheme on Thursday, May 12, which will increase the size of the settlement of Sully by 37%.

Local councillor Bob Penrose had moved a deferral which was rejected and the application was then approved by members of the committee through a vote.

Campaigners had held a demonstration that morning against a proposal for more than 300 houses in Sully.

Sully Community Council and more than 400 residents officially objected to the plans on the grounds of an inadequate road structure, extension of settlement boundary, flood risk, inadequate drainage, unsustainable development in terms of local amenities, visual impact, the impact on protected species and its quality and value as agricultural land and the existence of listed buildings on the site.

The outline application from Taylor Wimpey involves 12.7 hectares of land to the south of Cog Road.

Residents and members of the Saving Sully group gathered on South Road before marching up Swanbridge Road holding banners and placards in opposition to the plans

They held their protest as a site visit was underway by members of the Vale of Glamorgan Council's planning committee.

The plans have proven controversial with residents and campaign group Saving Sully have issued "No to Cog housing" signs all over the village since the application was first tabled in December 2013.

They organised a number of public meetings where the issue has been discussed over the past three years.

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

Head of planning, Marcus Goldsworthy says the need for housing land supply as part of the LDP was a key consideration and that highways and traffic management works would be undertaken to mitigate impact of increased traffic.

He also confirmed that a 40% affordable housing promise had been made and that Section 106 contributions would be a condition for the developer to offer financial provisions for local amenities, open spaces, education, sustainable transport and junction improvements within the village.

The Vale council has also received letters from local politicians including Andrew RT Davies, Stephen Doughty, and Vaughan Gething raising concerns over traffic management and flood risk.

Councillor Bob Penrose, who represents Sully on the Vale council, has called in the application for consideration by the committee.

He and fellow ward councillor Kevin Mahoney spoke against the proposal as well as community councillors Ian Barlow and Ken Jones.

They highlighted that the LDP had not yet been adopted and should not be a consideration in making the decision.

Paul Williams and Neil Buckman spoke in favour of the application saying a full technical assesment had been carried out and all aspects had been considered by the applicant and they had answered all concerns from planning officers.