Rejecting Axiom homes in Newbridge cost Caerphilly council nearly £65,000

Councillors dismissed plans for 45 homes on the former Axiom factory car park in Newbridge but, once the applicant appealed, could provide no evidence to support their decision.

The planning committee raised security, safety and noise concerns while also fearing the electronics manufacturer, which sold the land to the developer, would relocate if the development was allowed.

But a planning inspector said the decision, which was overruled in 2016, was contrary to planning officer advice provided at four successive planning committee meetings.

Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request reveal the £64,470 paid by Caerphilly was the highest sum spent by Gwent authorities defending failed planning appeals in the past three years.

Councillor Mike Adams, chair of Caerphilly council’s planning committee, said members were right to remain committed to their views regarding the Axiom development.

Councillor Mike Adams was a member of the planning committee when it rejected the application, and currently chairs the committee

The outgoing mayor also expressed frustration that building work has yet to begin at the site, with developers expected to start construction within five years of receiving planning permission.

“I don’t think the committee will regret the fact that they’ve taken a position and have committed to it, and members have shown an awful lot of confidence in our officers,” he said.

READ MORE: Developer urges rethink over planning permission refusal

“They are aware that if we go against recommendations that there are likely to be relative cost complications.”

But Cllr Adams conceded that the sum paid to the developer was “significant” and said he would prefer if the money stayed within the council “amid ongoing austerity”.

Caerphilly council's offices in Ystrad Mynach

A council spokeswoman said large one-off costs were “rare”, adding that while the sum was funded through revenue budgets, it would have no bearing on ongoing cutbacks to public services.

In total, developers had their appeals upheld by planning inspectors 75 times across the five regional authorities between 2016/17 and 2018/19.

Blaenau Gwent council lost £8,678 after refusing the conversion of Ty Cwm nursing home in Cwm into shared accommodation, and plans for 18 houses near Ashvale Sports Club in Tredegar.

An inspector ruled in favour of the applicant, who sought permission to build 18 homes on land near the former Ashvale Club in Tredegar

The planning committee’s vice chair, Councillor Mandy Moore, said the authority had won more appeals than lost but admitted that costs were a concern.

READ MORE: Blaenau Gwent council hit with costs after rejecting homes plan

“We make decisions in the best interests of the public, and we feel that officers err on the side of caution if cases could go either way on appeal,” said Cllr Moore.

“We had a site visit at Ashvale Sports Club, and it was clear to the committee that the proposed road wasn’t wide enough, but the inspector disagreed.

“There are a lot of factors at play. Everyone works to regulations, but one inspector might not agree with another and it can depend on who you get.”

The 34 appeals lost in Newport is the highest across Gwent, with the city council paying a developer £3,137 after rejecting a garage extension last July.

Monmouthshire council lost 21 appeals and lost £1,320 for refusing an application to build a house in the rear garden of a property in Raglan.

Councillors were “unreasonable” in throwing out the plans last September, according to an inspector, and causing the applicant to incur the “unnecessary expense” of an appeal.

Torfaen council lost 13 appeals during the same period but were not made to pay costs.