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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| £225m Bridgend 'village' planned | £225m Bridgend 'village' planned |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Final details of a £225m scheme to create a new village near Bridgend have been unveiled. | |
| The plan is to build 1,500 homes on 200 acres (80 hectares) of agricultural land between Bridgend and the neighbouring village of Coity. | The plan is to build 1,500 homes on 200 acres (80 hectares) of agricultural land between Bridgend and the neighbouring village of Coity. |
| Parc Derwen was first proposed over 10 years ago, and the idea is to create a modern community where villagers will be encouraged to walk and cycle. | Parc Derwen was first proposed over 10 years ago, and the idea is to create a modern community where villagers will be encouraged to walk and cycle. |
| But while there is support, some fear it will damage nearby communities. | But while there is support, some fear it will damage nearby communities. |
| Work on the roads and infrastructure work is expected to start next month. | Work on the roads and infrastructure work is expected to start next month. |
| The new village, to the north east of Bridgend, will also have a small shopping centre as well as a 330-place primary and nursery school. | The new village, to the north east of Bridgend, will also have a small shopping centre as well as a 330-place primary and nursery school. |
| The village will also have 150 social housing homes, a term which covers housing owned either by the local authority or housing associations, which is rented out, usually to people on low incomes. | The village will also have 150 social housing homes, a term which covers housing owned either by the local authority or housing associations, which is rented out, usually to people on low incomes. |
| The site on agricultural land is close to junction 36 of the M4, and between Parc Prison and the Brackla industrial estate. | The site on agricultural land is close to junction 36 of the M4, and between Parc Prison and the Brackla industrial estate. |
| I feel sorry for the people of Coity - but unfortunately for Ella and others, Bridgend is expanding Jeff Jones, local government consultant | I feel sorry for the people of Coity - but unfortunately for Ella and others, Bridgend is expanding Jeff Jones, local government consultant |
| The development is a joint venture between the Welsh Assembly Government and a consortium made up of Gallagher Estates, Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey. | |
| The deal sees the developers contributing more than £5m towards local facilities and amenities. | |
| The first part of the development will be a £4m Coity by-pass, which follows public consultation. | |
| However, critics claim the new homes will be disastrous for the village. | |
| Residents have been promised a green space between them and Parc Derwen, but they still fear the new village will swallow up their community. | Residents have been promised a green space between them and Parc Derwen, but they still fear the new village will swallow up their community. |
| Ella Dodd, a Coity community councillor and a member of the village association, said: "I would rather have Coity as it always has been. | Ella Dodd, a Coity community councillor and a member of the village association, said: "I would rather have Coity as it always has been. |
| "I'm quite aware that we do need affordable houses, but most of these houses are not affordable. | "I'm quite aware that we do need affordable houses, but most of these houses are not affordable. |
| The location is close to Coity and junction 36 of the M4 | The location is close to Coity and junction 36 of the M4 |
| Jeff Jones, former Labour leader of Bridgend Council, and now a local government consultant, said the scheme should have been started in 2004. | Jeff Jones, former Labour leader of Bridgend Council, and now a local government consultant, said the scheme should have been started in 2004. |
| He said: "The UK government wants more housing. The Welsh assembly wants more housing. We need more housing. This is an ideal site. | He said: "The UK government wants more housing. The Welsh assembly wants more housing. We need more housing. This is an ideal site. |
| "Bridgend needs another 7,600 houses up to 2016. | "Bridgend needs another 7,600 houses up to 2016. |
| "I feel sorry for the people of Coity. But unfortunately for Ella and others, Bridgend is expanding, it's close to the motorway. | "I feel sorry for the people of Coity. But unfortunately for Ella and others, Bridgend is expanding, it's close to the motorway. |
| "People will come to Bridgend because it's an area with real potential." | "People will come to Bridgend because it's an area with real potential." |
| He said the planned bypass would reinvigorate the nearby Brackla trading estate. | He said the planned bypass would reinvigorate the nearby Brackla trading estate. |
| Bridgend Council leader Cheryl Green said objections in the 1990s by Coity's village association had been overruled at the time by a planning inspector. | Bridgend Council leader Cheryl Green said objections in the 1990s by Coity's village association had been overruled at the time by a planning inspector. |
| She said: "I don't think you could pretend you are going to create another Coity here, but one would hope it would have its own identity and they would co-exist side-by-side and there wouldn't be too much impact on the village of Coity. | She said: "I don't think you could pretend you are going to create another Coity here, but one would hope it would have its own identity and they would co-exist side-by-side and there wouldn't be too much impact on the village of Coity. |
| "It's important that the developers stick very carefully to the design brief and that any further expansion is resisted." | "It's important that the developers stick very carefully to the design brief and that any further expansion is resisted." |