Plans for 18 affordable homes near Ebbw Vale have been welcomed by councillors, despite concerns over a planning condition that could potentially allow the applicant to sell off most of them in the future.
The proposal by Tai Calon Housing Association was discussed at a meeting of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council's Planning committee on Thursday, July 17.
The application is to build homes on the site of the former Cwmrhydderch Court retirement flats at Cwm, which were built in the 1970s and demolished in 2022.
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The development would consist of eight one-bedroom "walk up" flats, five two-bedroom houses and five three-bedroom houses, all bordering School Terrace. The scheme would be entirely composed of affordable homes and managed by Tai Calon.
Planning officer Helen Hinton presented the report, explaining: "The flats would be at the top end of the site; the northwestern corner and the dwellings would be in the southeast."
She added that the flats would be two storeys high, but their roofs would be set below the houses on School Terrace.
Ms Hinton also noted: "There are solar panels indicated for each of the properties and air source heat pumps are proposed for the dwellings facing School Terrace.
"24 parking spaces would be provided within the confines of the site, and the proposal is considered to be compatible and appropriate for the area."
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She further stated that no objections had been received and recommended that councillors approve the scheme as it would "help address current shortfall in housing delivery."
Cllr Wayne Hodgins, of the Independent group, sought "clarification" over a condition that Blaenau Gwent planners would impose on the planning permission.
Condition three specified that Tai Calon would maintain 10 per cent of the development as affordable housing.
Cllr Hodgins queried: "Is that an indication that they would sell off the properties?
"With an RSL (Registered Social Landlord) it's affordable rents that we focus on, what are we saying there?".
Ms Hinton explained that RSL's have opportunities to sell properties to some of their tenants.
Ms Hinton clarified, "What we are saying is that at least 10 per cent should be retained for social rent purposes – it's unlikely to occur but to make it policy complaint we recommend that condition be imposed.
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"In theory they could sell them on, but I don't know what limitations are put on this by Welsh Government."
Cllr Hodgins expressed his excitement about the potential benefits of the project, hoping it would benefit "local" residents and alleviate the council's housing waiting list.
Cllr George Humphreys, a non-aligned Independent, represents the Cwm ward. Cllr Humphreys remarked: "This was once a school which you can see from photographs, the railings are still there.
"It looks off the scale lovely from the pictures, to me its welcome and so nice to see."
The committee subsequently proceeded to a vote, with councillors unanimously supporting the scheme.
Tai Calon Community Housing, established in 2010 following the large-scale voluntary transfer of the council's housing stock, currently manages 5,821 homes in the county borough.