South Sebastopol housing plan dropped by Torfaen council

The South Sebastopol scheme had proposed a 'village' area, transport links, sport pitches and play areas

Homes will not be built on a controversial site at Sebastopol after Torfaen council voted to remove it from its Local Development Plan (LDP).

The South Sebastopol plan was first mooted more than a decade ago and faced strong opposition with concerns over traffic, wildlife and other worries.

The council had already rejected plans by Barratt Homes on behalf of a consortium last year to build 1,200 homes on the former farmland.

Barratt has declined to comment.

It worked for more than a decade on the development with consortium partners Taylor Wimpey and the Welsh government.

When its application was refused last year, the company said it was disappointed and was considering its position.

Consult further

However,following a reportdiscussed by councillors at an extraordinary meeting last month, any building on the land seems unlikely.

A spokesman for the local authority said councillors had agreed to "delete the South Sebastopol strategic action area from the LDP and to reduce the overall housing numbers by 690 dwellings".

He added: "The plan is designed to make provision for land use development in Torfaen up to 2021.

"The council will now consult further on the final changes and then submit the LDP to the Welsh government for examination by the inspector."