Approval Given for 46 New Affordable Homes Despite Concerns for Historic Ship

Councillors have unanimously approved 46 further homes at a new housing estate despite concerns about a negative impact on an historic ship. 

The homes, which are all affordable, will be built on a plot of land at the Fairfield Mabey Site a new neighbourhood created at the former shipyard at Mabey Bridge in Chepstow and which was originally due for use as employment land in the redevelopment.

But Monmouthshire County Council’s head of planning Amy Langford told its planning committee despite attempts at marketing the site for light industrial use there was no interest. 

As a result it was recommended alternative proposals to use the site for 100 per cent affordable housing are acceptable. The homes will be built by original developer Barratt David Wilson Homes and transferred to Pobl Housing Association, which made the planning application. 

But Ms Longford said concerns over the Severn Princess, which is on the historic ships register, couldn’t be considered as the boat, one of the ferries used to transport passengers and their cars from Aust to Beachley, across the River Severn, is outside the “red line” area marking the application site. 

Ms Longord said that also meant the developers couldn’t be required to provide funding towards the ship restoration project but said it has confirmed it is willing to work with it. 

A report for the committee said: “The proposed development would have neutral impact on the protection of the ship, it will not alter the current location of the Severn Princess, nor hinder access to it.” 

St Arvans Conservative councillor, Ann Webb, praised the planning department on its work on the shipyard development and said: “Thank you for raising the issue of the Severn Princess, hopefully it comes to a successful conclusion.” 

The original permissions, that dated back to 2017 and 2019, allowed a maximum of 449 homes across the whole site and the 45 for approval will bring the total to 419 “still well under the threshold”, said Ms Longford. 

The homes will be built in three blocks of one and two-bedroom flats with a four-storey block of 15 flats for older people, a three-storey block of 11 flats for “intermediate” or below market rate rent, and a three-storey block of 20 flats for general needs or standard social housing. 

The site will only have 31 parking spaces which planning officers said is acceptable, despite being below the council’s standards, due to its central location and that Pobl has said car ownership is lower than average among its tenants.