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Up TO 1,020 homes will be built on 60 hectares of farm fields under plans for a new “village” in north-east Cardiff, we can reveal.

Developers are also proposing a primary school, shops, allotments, a community orchard and a landscaped Riverside Park spanning 25 hectares along the Rhymney River.

The proposed estate, known as St Edeyrn’s Village, is bounded by junction 30 of the M4, Pentwyn Link Road and the A48 Eastern Avenue.

If given the go-ahead by Cardiff council’s planning committee, the scheme would rise up over eight to 15 years as part of a wider plan for a total of up to 1,400 homes east of Pontprennau.

It comes just weeks after we revealed that a shortage of land available for housing was expected to spark a “battle” between rival developers bidding to build housing estates on the city’s green spaces.

Local councillors yesterday voiced concerns about the loss of open space and increased traffic congestion, but others said the demand for family housing made development inevitable.

The outline planning application was submitted by housebuilder Persimmon Homes East Wales and Cardiff-based property developer PMG, owned by Cardiff City FC director Paul Guy.

Located next to Cardiff Gate retail and business parks, the site is currently farm fields, dotted with a handful of cottages, as well as a 16th century pub and the 12th century St Edeyrn’s Church.

Mr Guy said: “This proposal will bring about much-needed homes, investment and jobs along with new facilities for the area – in particular a new primary school and substantial public park with associated improvements to the Rhymney trail.”

Persimmon Homes regional land director Andrew Crompton added: “The St Ederyns Village development will be one of Persimmon’s flagship sites, delivering more than 1,000 new homes to meet the demand for more family housing in the capital city of Cardiff.

“The scheme will also deliver a new primary school, and the creation of an attractive riverside park with playing fields. It will bring substantial new investment to the area and create a sustainable new community village with excellent links into the existing amenities and transport infrastructure.”

The majority of the land makes up a “strategic site” in the council’s Local Development Plan (LDP) Preferred Strategy, adopted in November, which plans for 2,000 homes in the area.

The blueprint for the city’s future growth proposes 45,000 new homes between now and 2026, including 18,000 on green spaces, to cope with a population forecast to increase by 26% to 408,000.

Pontprennau’s Conservative councillor Dianne Rees said the “massive” estate would be equivalent in size to the existing Old St Mellons village.

“It’s going to destroy a huge swathe of some of the most attractive and production farmland in the city for the benefit of developers,” she said.

Pontprennau’s Labour councillor Georgina Phillips described the proposed development as “frightening”, adding: “We would all prefer that there was no development on our greenfields. I really believe that the whole thing has a long way to run, this is going to be a very long process.”

Daniel McGee, landlord of the Unicorn Inn, on Church Road, said: “As long as the scenery does not change, it would be great for business to have people able to walk here rather than drive.”

Former local councillor Jane Rogers added: “As long as the development is sympathetic and the wildlife is protected as best as is possible, then it will go ahead. My only concern is that it will lead to even larger developments in the area.”

The planning application comes just weeks after the Welsh Government said it was “minded” to grant permission for 150 homes on adjoining land at Church Road. Land towards the north of the new village is expected to provide a further 86 to 173 homes.

Key to the map

1. Higher density development alongside public transport corridor

2. Lower density development alongside riverside park

3. Retail/community uses alongside junction of improved section of Church Road and Bridge Road linking connecting to St Edeyrn’s Church and The Unicorn pub

4. Primary school with sports pitches

5. Retained listed farmhouse within green setting

6. Existing fire service training facility

7. The Unicorn public house

8. St Ederyn’s Church

9. Proposed Heron development with ncluding play area

10. Potential future development

11. Primary vehicular access (signalised) from A4232 Pentwyn Link Road

12. Vehicular loop to provide bus route

13. St Mellons Road to be closed to traffic with provide foot/cycle connection to Cardiff Gate business and retail park

14. Bridge Road to be stopped in part to provide foot/cycle route

15. Bridge Road south to be stopped to vehicles to prevent rat run

16. Retained lane and public right of way

17 & 18. Public rights of way

19. New footbridge to connect parkland

20. Public right of way /Rhymney Trail extension

21. Riverside park with potential for meadows, woodland, circular walks, adventure play area and extension to Rhymney Trail extension

22. Allotments and community orchard

23. Pocket park with play area

24. Replacement tree planting and view across park

25. Green edge with replacement hedgerows planting

26. Retained Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs)

27. Green corridor with retained watercourse

28. Green corridor linking SINCs and other areas

29. Planted Buffer to M4, accommodating gas main

30. Limited hedgerow translocation

The plans in detail

The main vehicle access to St Edeyrn’s Village would be from the Pentwyn Link Road roundabout, with a looped bus route meaning all homes will be within 400m of a bus stop, according to the plans.

St Edeyrn’s, the documents state, will have a “village identity” and provide a mix of dwellings focused on family homes, with the centre integrated with the existing church and pub.

The council is already planning to open an English-medium primary school at Pontprennau in 2015, with a public consultation running until April 26.

The proposed two-form entry primary school planned for St Edeyrn’s, on land north of Bridge Road, will generally only serve the new development itself.

Existing local bus services at Pontprennau, Llanrumney and St Mellons will be expanded, while cycle and walking improvements will be improved, including the creation of a footbridge across the Rhymney River.

Bridge Road, which cuts through part of the site, will be stopped up in several locations to prevent “rat-running” and operate solely as a foot/cycle route. It will continue to provide access to existing dwellings and a small number of new properties, the plans add.