Councillor Brent Carter, Leader of Merthyr Tydfil CBC gives an update on the Rhydycar West planning application

Today, we have received a letter from Welsh Government to confirm that the Rhydycar West planning application will be passed back to Merthyr Tydfil CBC to determine.

In the letter, Welsh Government’s Head of Planning Casework, says: “The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning has concluded that while issues of conflict with national policy exist, in this case they are of a scale and complexity which she is content for the LPA to consider. The application will not be called in for determination by the Welsh Ministers.”

When the application went to the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing committee in March this year, the committee voted unanimously against the recommendation within the report to refuse the application, essentially showing their support for the development. Councillors spoke passionately about the economic benefits it could bring to the town and the opportunities it could hold for future generations. You only need to look at local social media groups to see the amount of support that there is for this development.

The outline planning application will be presented to the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee early in the new year for a decision.