Plans to build four houses in a Cardiff suburb have been refused after strong opposition from the local community. Sudhir Sehrawat applied to build four detached four-bedroom houses on land at Merthyr Road in Tongwynlais, but the proposal was met with objections from neighbours, local ward councillors, and the town council.
Community Council Raises Concerns Over Village Hall Impact
Tongwynlais Community Council formally objected, stating: “If houses are built on this land there would be a negative impact on the adjacent village hall. There have already been complaints regarding noise and parking in the area when the hall is in use. The hall was paid for by the residents many years ago and the residents would like to see it expand as it is a huge asset to the community. We fear that houses being built on the other side of the hall could possibly cause the closure of the hall due to more noise complaints and less parking along Merthyr Road.”
The application was originally lodged with Cardiff Council in 2020 but was only refused recently.
Councillors Cite Green Space, Traffic, and Water Main Risks
Councillors Linda Morgan, Mike Phillips, and Mia Rees, who served on Cardiff Council at the time of the application, objected due to the impact on green space, the character of the neighbourhood, and traffic issues. Their objection letter also noted they had been “in talks with” Welsh Water about the proximity of the development to “three large water mains situated” in the parcel of ground. They highlighted a historical incident: “during the 1990s one of the mains fractured and the flow was so intense it created a large hole in the main road whereby a car disappeared into the hole and adjoining properties were flooded.”
Petition Garners 50 Signatures
A petition set up by local residents opposing the development received 50 signatures. The applicant’s planning statement argued that “the proposed development is of a high-quality compatible with its location and character and consistent with all the relevant policies of the Cardiff City Local Plan.” It also stated that “the overall objective of the development with regards to green transport initiatives is to achieve a situation where residents and visitors can make intelligent travel decisions based on high-quality information and a diverse choice of transport modes.”
