Vale of Glamorgan Council bid to develop Upper Cosmeston Farm

Cabinet members of the council are being asked to note a report this week which shows the proposed partnership’s intention to submit a bid to the Welsh Government to acquire and develop the land at Upper Cosmeston Farm, which is  earmarked for 576 homes.

The partnership, which will be made up of Vale of Glamorgan Council, Newydd Housing Association, United Welsh Housing Association and Edenstone Homes will put itself forward to build all of the housing on site. This will include the 50% of the total planned housing that will be made up of affordable housing.  Vale of Glamorgan Council cabinet members will meet on Thursday, June 6 to discuss the report.

Plans for the 567 home development were approved by the council’s planning committee in March 2024. Concerns about the development were raised at the planning committee meeting by a county councillor representing Sully, Cllr Kevin Mahoney, who said it will put pressure on services in an area which is already “chock-a-block”.

Cllr Mahoney went on to say there are no places at schools, dentists and  GP surgeries and that road infrastructure in the area is “falling to pieces”.

He added: “We know full well that the road can’t take any more traffic.”

The site, located off Lavernock Road and near Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, will also eventually include a primary school, public open space and other community facilities.

One planning officer at that same meeting, Rob Lankshear, said there is an opportunity for health service issues to be catered for on site in the future.

He also said the plans have been highly scrutinised and off-site improvements to local road infrastructure have also been recommended.

The Welsh Government put the land up for sale at the end of 2023 – a move approved by the then Welsh minister for climate change, Julie James.

The deadline to submit bids to the Welsh Government for the land is midday on June 7, 2024.