Plans for 360 homes at Weycock Cross in Barry were approved in a knife-edge vote at a full Vale of Glamorgan Council meeting on December 1, after first being submitted in 2022 as part of a broader proposal for nearly 500 new properties in Barry.
The site at Weycock Cross was chosen after the council abandoned plans for 900 homes at Argae Lane in north-east Barry due to land ownership issues, but residents have spoken out about the development that has been approved.
Petitions and a protest taking place on Tuesday, March 3, against the development have given locals the chance to speak freely about their complains and concerns regarding the new housing, with many objecting to specific details in the proposed plan.
Like many in the area, those who live in the immediate vicinity of Weycock Cross are concerned about the traffic, congestion and pollution that almost 400 new homes will bring.
Some find themselves concerned with the impact on biodiversity of the green space it will consume, along with the supposed lack of services in the area for new residents to live healthy lives with GP and schooling services within arm’s reach.
As a local artist who takes inspiration from nature, resident Mary Vincent is particularly concerned with the loss of the green space. She said: “The loss of green space that housing and hardcore will replace is surely lamentable.
“There will be less uncovered land to drain the increasing heavy rainfall that climate change is already bringing. The impact on biodiversity will also be felt.
“Loss of habitat is a main reason for the drastic decline in wildlife species countrywide.”
She says that this green wedge in Weycock Cross is a “bridge between the outer natural world and a suburban garden”.
Other are simply concerned with the impact this development will have on local services and amenities.
Pam, another local resident says: “I’ve lived in this area for nearly 36 years and numerous attempts to build houses in the fields have been roundly rejected over that period, and always for the same very valid reasons.
“It would be easy to say nothing has changed, but it has – it’s become worse. Local infrastructure, environment, population and public services cannot sustain such a development as that planned by the Vale council. This was recognised previously, so what, in the council’s opinion, has changed for the better to make this development make sense now?”
Julia – another local says: “Our community feels ignored – facing gridlocked roads, overstretched services and the loss of green space, all for a development that gives little back to the people who actually live here”
These residents have now formed a group to object the planned development and intent to stage a series of protests in the coming weeks to highlight the impact they feel the development will have.
A consultation is in place until March 11, for residents to have their say and share their concerns about the development.
A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesperson said at the time of it’s inclusion in the RLDP: “The site at Weycock Cross in Barry was approved for inclusion in the Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP) at the Full Council meeting on 1 December.
“Two further sites, at Hayes Lane and Neptune Road in Barry, were also approved.
“These sites have been identified to replace the previously proposed allocation at North East Barry/Argae Lane.
“The newly proposed sites will make a significant and positive contribution toward meeting housing need in the town, especially in the wider context of the national housing shortage.”
