A controversial plan to force through 111 homes on a Raglan site has been shot down by Welsh Government planners.

A letter seen by this newspaper reveals that the Welsh Government’s head of planning has rejected the application pushed through by Monmouthshire County Council on November 7.

It can be revealed that ministers have now called in the application, wresting control away from Monmouthshire County Council. ??A letter addressed to MCC’s head of planning, Mark Hand, states that the “application appears to be contrary to national policy” and that its fate shall be “determined by the Welsh Ministers.”

The news will serve as a significant win for campaigners strongly oppose the development.

An earlier letter dated from last week and authored by the head of planning decisions, stated that ‘further consideration’ was needed as to whether or not the application should be referred to Welsh ministers for their consideration.

Over 100 Raglan villagers rallied last month, saying ‘No!’ to the development of 111 houses on the edge of their village, insistent that the MCC plans should have never been given the go-ahead.

Opposition centred on a large housing development mooted for a green field site edging Raglan Village, which campaigners have said would besmirch the ‘beautiful and historic’ settlement, swelling the local population by nearly one-third.

Despite impassioned arguments from both sides, councillors approved the plans, meeting gasps from the assembly of placard-waving protestors set behind them.

The strength of feeling against the development was previously set in 190 letters of opposition, including those authored by the Woodland, and Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trusts.