Blaenau Gwent Council's planning committee is scheduled to meet on 2 October 2025 to discuss planning applications, appeals, and performance data. Among the items for discussion are two planning applications, updates on appeals and developments of national significance, and a report on the council's performance in processing planning applications. The committee will also look at a list of planning applications determined between 21 August and 18 September 2025.

Planning Applications

The committee will be presented with a Planning Applications Report regarding two applications:

• P/2025/0149: A retrospective application for the change of use of a ground floor shop and basement at 23 Bethcar Street, Ebbw Vale from retail (A1) to a café (A3) and relocation of the front door.
• P/2025/0234: An application for the installation of an additional CCTV camera at Ty Cwtch Lakeside Close, Nantyglo.

23 Bethcar Street, Ebbw Vale

Retrospective planning permission is being sought for the change of use of the property to an A3 use, providing a café. The report notes that the property is within the Ebbw Vale town centre boundary and within the Primary Retail Area, as defined by the Local Development Plan (LDP). The application is being presented to the Planning Committee because the proposal constitutes a departure from the Local Development Plan. The proposed hours of opening are 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Sunday, including bank holidays.

The report notes that the Blaenau Gwent Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) monitors the percentage of A1 uses in the primary retail areas, and the 2023-2024 AMR shows that the percentage of A1 uses in the Ebbw Vale primary retail area declined by 2% between 2009 and 2020. The town centre survey also reveals that the property was last operational as an A1 store in October 2021 and the entire property has remained unoccupied since October 2023. The report states that:

Although the proposed development remains contrary to policy DM5, the marketing information and the AMR results are a material consideration in the determination of the planning application.

Ty Cwtch Lakeside Close, Nantyglo, Brynmawr

Mark and Stephanie Hopkins have submitted a planning application for the installation of an additional CCTV camera on the side elevation of their dwelling at Ty Cwtch, Lakeside Close, Nantyglo, Brynmawr. The application is being presented to the committee because the applicant, Mark Hopkins, is an officer within the Development Management team. The proposed CCTV camera would be located on the north-western side elevation of the property, at a height of 4.5m above the ground level and would measure 12 cm in width, 12 cm in height and 10cm in depth. It would be white in colour. The report notes that the installation of CCTV cameras can often be undertaken under Permitted Development Rights and would not therefore require planning permission, but in this case, the proposal requires consent due to the presence of an existing CCTV camera within 10 metres of the proposal.

Appeals, Consultations and Developments of National Significance

The committee will receive an Appeals, Consultations and DNS Update October 2025 report, which includes updates on planning appeals, live Developments of National Significance (DNS) cases, and the status of anticipated DNS schemes.

The report includes a list of 'live' planning appeals and Developments of National Significance (DNS) caseloads, and also provides information on the status of anticipated DNS schemes.

Land off Hall Street, Ebbw Vale

The report notes that a planning appeal for a residential development on land off Hall Street in Ebbw Vale is in progress. The questionnaire has been completed, and a statement submitted. An inspector site visit is pending.

Mynydd Llanhilleth Wind Farm DNS

The report includes a Local Impact Report (LIR) for the Mynydd Llanhilleth DNS CAS-03540-M8J8M5 (Resubmission). The report notes that PEDW¹ have requested further information from the applicant by 24 October 2025 before re-consulting.

Abertillery Wind Farm DNS

The report includes a response to re-consultation for the Abertillery Wind Farm DNS/3278009. The determination period is scheduled to resume on 22 September 2025, with a decision to be made based on written representations. The council's response to PEDW regarding additional information is included in the report, and raises concerns from the Council's Highway Authority regarding the proposed junction arrangement to accommodate both construction traffic associated with the development and walkers/cyclists accessing the national cycle route. The council also highlights the concerns of Heneb² (formerly GGAT³) within the LIR, which requested further information in the form of a field evaluation (trial trenching) prior to determination.

The council's landscape consultant has clarified that the SLAs⁴ within the Borough are neither pre-industrial nor rare, and that this referred to the landscape pattern remaining open largely undeveloped upland farming or heath/moorland. The report notes that the council's Environmental Health Officer has advised that the proposed noise conditions were based on the information the applicants provided in their reports.

Quarterly Performance Information

The committee will be presented with a Quarterly Performance Information report, which covers Quarter 4 of the 2024/25 financial year (January to March 2025). The report will focus on three indicators:

• Applications determined in time
• Time taken (average number of days) to determine all applications
• Quality of decision making (decisions taken by the planning committee that are contrary to the recommendation of its officers).

The report notes that during this period the service was currently operating with one less planning officer who was seconded to other duties associated with migrating to a new back-office software system, and that the Service Manager was also absent during this period.

List of Determined Applications

The committee will be presented with a List of Determined Applications Between 21st August 2025 – 18th September 2025. The report lists decisions that have already been made under delegated powers and is for information only. The list includes DNS Ref: CAS -03540 -M8J8M5 - Construct and operate a wind farm of a maximum of seven wind turbines, each with a three -bladed rotor and a maximum height to blade tip of up to 180m and associated infrastructure. The list also includes P/2025/0098 for Clee Tompkinson Francis, ., 49 Bethcar Street, Ebbw Vale, for a proposed change of use from commercial property to A3 food and drink establishment / takeaway.