The new Welsh Secretary Ron Davies has called in his first two planning applications since taking office, giving the clearest indication to date that he will take a strong line on out-of-town development.
The two controversial projects are Castlemore Securities’ proposals for a 20-screen multiplex at Cleppa Park in Newport and Edge Developments’ plans for a 9,197 sq m (98,998 sq ft) retail warehouse development at Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff.
According to Karime Hassan Development Control Manager at Newport Council the new government “has brought planning in Wales on a par with the rest of Britain.” He added: “Traditionally, guidance in Wales has lagged behind the DoE. Hitherto we haven’t had the guidance on the government’s approach to out of town leisure and retail schemes that England had.”
Welsh Planning Minister Win Griffiths said: “Mr Davies considers that his intervention is justified because, in the case of Cleppa Park, the issues are of more than local significance; and in the case of Culverhouse Cross, the scale of the proposed development is such that it should be dealt with by him.”
Davies has also decided to step in on a proposed reclamation scheme at Merthyr Tydfil and a development site for an open cast mine at Talywaun, near Pontypool.
EGi News 07/07/97
