MEMBERS of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority’s (BBNPA) Planning committee have approved plans a to build 43 affordable homes in Talgarth.

But a major snag with the scheme is that people may not be allowed to live there for at least four years.

This is because a condition attached to the permission means that nobody can move into the homes until work to Talgarth Wastewater Treatment Works have been completed.

This would mean that it is operating in compliance with a consolidated environmental permit and is able to accommodate the foul water from the development.

At the BBNPA’s Planning committee meeting on Tuesday, March 24 members received a report on the proposal by Pobl Group housing association to develop a field off Hay road in Talgarth between Ysgol y Mynydd Ddu primary school and the Haygarth medical centre.

The proposal is to build a mix of 12 one-bedroom flats, seven two-bedroom bungalows, five two-bedroom bungalows, 11 three-bedroom houses and eight four-bedroom houses at the 1.7-hectare site.

Planning officer Lisa Hughes told members that she recommended approving the proposal.

Cllr Handel Davies (Carmarthenshire) asked whether the condition to restrict occupation until 2030 could be “relaxed” sooner than that?

Ms Hughes: “What Welsh Water are saying is that they will have the works done ahead of 2030, and that it could be the end of December 2027.”

The issue she explained is that the environment permit from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) would also need to be brought forward to coincide with Welsh Water finishing their upgrading work ahead of time.

If that were to happen Ms Hughes said that planning condition on the occupancy could then be “relaxed.”

Ms Hughes said: “At the moment as the permit is for 2030 our condition has to stay with that.

“It would be for Welsh Water to apply and bring that permit forward.”

Cllr Peter Baldwin (Blaenau Gwent) asked: “How will the allocation of those houses be implemented?”

Ms Hughes said: “The occupants will come from the Powys housing list.

Cllr Huw Williams (Powys) said: “Having read the report I note that none of the statutory consultees have objected to the proposal, Talgarth town council is for it.

“When you are ready, I propose we go along with the officers recommendation.”

His proposal was seconded by Cllr Edwin Roderick (Powys).

Welsh Government appointed member and committee chairman Steve Rayner said: “It’s very welcome to see a significant development in Talgarth, given the issues we’ve had there with phosphates over the years.”

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The committee moved to a vote and members unanimously backed the scheme.