Opposition to a controversial development at Deri Farm is growing after residents angry at supposed plan changes hit back at developers.

Residents frustrated with the proposals say Persimmon Homes’ plan to erect a new electricity pylon on the 250-home site was not part of the original blueprint.

Welsh Water also objected to the plans after it raised public health concerns regarding the sewerage system at the site.

Concerned residents at a Mardy Hall meeting last week said the new pylon broke Persimmon Homes’ original development plans, and would encroach upon their property.

Ralph Chapman, independent councillor for Mardy, threw his weight behind opposition to the pylon proposals.

“The whole application depends on whether the pylons are removed or not. At the moment, the current proposal involving the pylons does not meet the original conditions, so that’s why I object,” he said.

Councillor Chapman, present at the meeting, said developers would need to meet the original guidelines, and those of Welsh Water, before any further progress could be made.

Graham Hawker CBE, in a letter sent to MCC last week, said he was ‘strongly opposed’ to the development.

“To impose up to 250 dwellings into such an environment is to destroy the local character and cause harm to the setting of the Brecon Beacon National Park, as well as impact on views from the Skirrid and Deri mountains.

“The impact on the landscape is clear from the layout proposals, and confirms failure of the development to meet the Council’s policies.

“Similarly, transport issues are such as to render the impact on the lives of residents unacceptable,” he said.

Mr Hawker, said proposals to build a new pylon close to Hereford Road broke the original commitment to remove overhead powerlines, a venture he says is driven by cost-cutting.

The site on the outskirts of Abergavenny met strident opposition from local groups before planning permission was approved by the County council in 2014.

Residents say the development would flood the area with traffic and squeeze school places.

One group, Mardy Against Deri Development (MADD) previously said the site would blight the view of their homes, drive anti-social behaviour, and its entrance would be served by a dangerous blind bend.

Persimmon Homes, in the original application for outline planning permission, said it would re-route high-voltage lines underground and remove two pylons.

It also planned to tackle the traffic concerns by extending the existing 30mph speed limit on Hereford Road and to create a ‘ghost island’ right turn lane onto the estate.

Persimmon also said the development has been ‘sensitively designed’ to include recreational spaces, new pedestrian and cycle links.

Concerns of properties overlooking one another would be avoided as the design would see homes built with rear gardens back-to-back, according to the original plan.

The application by Persimmon Homes concludes that ‘the site offers an opportunity to create a sustainable and inclusive residential extension to Abergavenny.’

Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay said homeowners living near the site were right to be sceptical as the proposal to build the new pylon was not laid-out in the original agreement.

“Clearly, there is a great deal of concern about plans to construct this new pylon, which was not shown on the original plan. Residents fear it would be very close to their homes.

“The original expectation was that cables would be underground to the existing pylon, which is some way from residents’ houses,” he said.

Despite some reassurances from a Western Power Distribution representative, Mr Ramsay called for Monmouthshire County Council to step in.

“I am urging both the council and the developer to consider all options and go ahead with the best option for local people.

“It is very unfair that local residents have been kept waiting for so long and that having accepted the housing plans, they now face the prospect of being disappointed at the last hurdle,” he said.

Martin Smith, managing director of Persimmon in east Wales said, “We have submitted an application to construct 250 dwellings at the site. Delivery of this site will assist the Local Authority with its Housing Strategy including the provision of affordable housing.

“It is proposed to lower the existing electricity pylons both on and adjacent to the site. This will provide a significant benefit to those living adjacent to the site.

“Along with the wider benefit of removing this blight on the landscape, and opening up views from Abergavenny into the Brecon Beacons National Park.”

Mr Smith said his firm was set to invest a total of £75m, and create 35 construction jobs in addition to 27 positions in retail and leisure after completion.

Residents of the new site would spend £4m total each year, and boost council tax receipts, he added.

“The planning application has recently been registered by Monmouthshire local authority and Persimmon Homes is working with the Authority, along with statutory consultees such as Welsh Water to overcome any technical constraints to development,” he said.

Troubles for the development deepened as Welsh Water halted work, after objecting to MCC’s planning consultation, saying the sewerage system could affect residents’ health and damage the environment.

In a letter sent to MCC, officials at Welsh Water said no work could be done before plans for an adequate drainage system had been ticked-off by the local authority.

Sonny Robinson, development control officer at Welsh Water, said in the statement, work at the site could not continue until developers met the standard.

“The proposed development would overload the Waste Water Treatment Works. We consider any development prior to improvements being made to be premature and therefore object to the development,” he said.

Welsh Water also stated that any further changes to plans should be discussed with themselves.

MCC said the development was ongoing, and that decisions would be made in due course.

Mark Hand, MCC’s chief planning officer, said, “The planning application for development at Deri Farm - a strategic housing site in the council’s current adopted Local Development Plan - is under consideration at the moment and will considered by Monmouthshire’s Planning Committee on its merits.”