THREE controversial housing developments which could see more than 500 hundred new homes built in Monmouthshire are likely to be approved next week.

Long-standing plans for new developments in Portskewett, Caldicot and Raglan have all been recommended for approval when they come before the county council’s planning committee.

The developments could help plug a sizeable shortfall in affordable housing.

But the plans are not without concerns, with apprehension expressed over the impact of each of the three planned developments.

The most significant application concerns the 291 houses – including 73 affordable homes, seven bungalows and an open play area – proposed on land south of Crick Road near Portskewett.

Melin Homes also wants to build a 48-bed care home to provide round-the-clock care for dementia patients.

The proposals have received more than 70 objections, particularly from residents living in Treetops ,where a secondary access is planned.

Concerns include the impact on “oversubscribed” schools and health surgeries, traffic and road safety issues, and fears Portskewett would “lose its identity”.

But the council’s highways department say the development “would not lead to a deterioration in highway safety or capacity on the highway network”.

If outline permission is granted, Melin Homes will be expected to sign a section 106 agreement worth than £1.3 million.

The agreement would pay for play area provisions onsite and elsewhere, provide funds for local schools, and contribute towards an improved bus service to Caldicot town centre.

The second biggest application is to build up to 130 homes, including 35 per cent affordable housing, and a new community park on land east of Church Road in Caldicot.

Planning officers have recommended the development is approved at a meeting on Tuesday, despite concerns there is “insufficient infrastructure” in the area.

Caldicot Town Council opposes the application, citing increased traffic as well as school capacity and health concerns.

The town council also points out that the site is outside of Monmouthshire’s Local Development Plan (LDP).

But a report prepared ahead of next week’s decision points out that the council’s policy is that developments outside the LDP will still be considered if acceptable in planning terms, as the authority attempts to plug a sizeable shortfall within its five-year housing land supply.

More than half of the site will be retained as green open space for the public to enjoy under the plans.

A council report notes the plans would help meet a “significant shortfall” of housing developments in the south of the county.

And controversial plans to build up to 111 homes on land south of Monmouth Road in Raglan will also be decided.

The plans fall outside Monmouthshire’s LDP but, like the Church Road proposals, will still be considered by the authority.

The plans have been recommended for approval despite strong opposition, including a march attended by more than 100 campaigners at the weekend.

Helen Ronchetti helped organise the march. She said: “We’re not anti-new housing, but we think this particular development is just wrong for the village.

“We can’t believe it hasn’t been thrown out already by the county council,” she said in reference to the LDP.

“The council will be making a mockery of its own process if it goes ahead.”

READ MORE: Villagers march to oppose plan for 111 houses