A CONTROVERSIAL planning application to build 14 homes on woodland in Bassaleg has been withdrawn following uproar from residents.

The planning application to build a housing development on land to the rear and north of Ruperra Close was due to face Newport City Council's planning committee on Wednesday.

Planning officers had already taken on board complaints and had recommended the application, lodged in February by Danzoe Limited, should be rejected by councillors considering it to be “unacceptable on a number of grounds”.

Residents now hope to buy the land from developers in a bid to protect it for future generations.

Rhymney Way resident, John Lee, 55, said: "Nothing's off the table. We've been put in touch with various charitable bodies and we're hoping to set up a trust.

"We're not looking to make money, our sole aim is to protect that woodland for ever. We want to put a covenant on the land to protect it and make it almost a nature reserve."

Planning officers said the development would have caused the loss of a “significant number of protected trees” and that there is “insufficient" ecological information, a lack of highway information and detail to demonstrate that there would be no impact on highway safety and an inadequate level of amenity space.

They also said the application contradicts the city’s Local Development Plan, adopted earlier this year.

A petition of 134 signatures objecting to the planning application was handed to planning officers on April 10 as well as a further 252 letters and a 220-strong petition of signatures collected at a folk festival handed in last week.

Gwent Wildlife Trust also objected to the development on the basis that there is insufficient ecological information and the development would result in the loss of woodland, habitats and environmental space.

In the planning officer's report, councillor David Williams said: “The proposal will add to the traffic feeding on to Forge Lane at peak periods, the road that leads to this development is congested with traffic at peak times for example when Junction 28 is open and when the new Church Hall is being used.

“Where the access to this site intersects with Viaduct Way and Caerphilly Road is also very dangerous and there is no possibility of a pavement on either side of this access road.”

Graig Community Council also strongly objected on the grounds it would be “overdevelopment for such a long narrow site and that the access to the site is very narrow and passes by a busy restaurant and church hall on a road which already has very bad parking issues”.

Anyone who would like to get involved and help the residents can email saveourwoodlandbassaleg@gmail.com