BUILDER Taylor Wimpey was to have built a new bridge over the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in Pontnewydd, but failed to keep to the condition imposed.
It was supposed to have been built by the time the 650th house of its giant 1,200 home development at South Sevastopol was occupied, Janet Friend reports.
Finished by 2022
But residents moved into the 650th home at the end of 2022, meaning work on the bridge should have started in 2021.
Local council planning consultant, Duncan Smith, told that it had not happened, as the firm was blaming financial uncertainty, slow sales and the loss of workers during the Covid pandemic for the delay. [Artists' drawing of the proposed bridge.]
The Torfaen Borough Council committee was asked to change the condition so that bridge, which still requires planning permission and is expected to take up to 18 months to build, is completed by the 850th occupation.
Over 700 already built
Mr Smith said 700 homes are already occupied, and told councillors:
“They are in breach with 50 more built than essentially should have been.”
The matter is now in the hands of the committee but is expected to be resolved.