Campaigners claim the area now "looks like a compound" and called on the council to remove the portable homes
Vale of Glamorgan Council installed 90 portable homes in the small coastline town(Image credit: David Thomas)
Locals in a small Welsh town have raised funds to challenge their local council after 90 portable homes were installed in their area for refugees.
The portable homes were put up in Llandtwit Major, a town on the Bristol Channel Coast in Wales, by Vale of Glamorgan Council who claim the homes did not need planning permission.
Now campaigners have raised funds to cover the legal costs and challenge the council's decision and to get the homes removed.
What are the portable homes?
Vale of Glamorgan Council has erected 90 temporary modular homes on the site of a former primary school.
The homes were put up in November 2023 and the council said: "The units will provide high-quality, short-term housing for those in need, such as refugees from the war in Ukraine."
Refugees were expected to move into the homes in March 2024 but as of yet the homes are yet to be used.
The 90 portable homes were put up on the site of a former primary school(Image credit: Google Earth)
Campaign launched to 'stop the abuse of power' by the council
Campaigners have claimed that the portable homes breach the council's own planning regulations and should be removed.
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Steve McGranaghan, who has lived next to the Eagleswell site for 32 years, set up a Crowd Justice page to fund a legal case, and which has so far raised £7,362, meeting its target of £7,201.
He claims the council have ignored their own planning rules and the concerns of the locals and to "stop the abuse of power of the Vale of Glamorgan councils building department".
He added: "The VOG (Vale of Glamorgan) council misled us about who is going to be housed in this site and how long it is to remain there. It looks like a compound.
"We have engaged the professional legal services of a Barrister who is currently preparing a strong legal argument against this development. We have also engaged the services of a building planning consultant who will be advising the Barrister."
What permitted development rights were used to install the portable homes?
The homes were allowed under permitted development rights as in their current form they will only be there for 12 months.
Under permitted development rights the homes are allowed to remain until November 2024 without needing planning permission, but the council have already begun a retrospective planning application to keep the homes beyond this point.
A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesperson said: "This site has long been earmarked for residential development, a fact referenced in the council’s local development plan.
"A planning application for this site is also being considered by the council and officers will take into account representations received by neighbours as part of that process.
"Planning permission to use the site for an extended period of time will not change the nature of the development and we still intend to use the modular accommodation as a temporary measure only. The housing units are not permanent structures so can be moved to another location in the future."
News Editor Joseph has previously written for Today’s Media and Chambers & Partners, focusing on news for conveyancers and industry professionals. Joseph has just started his own self build project, building his own home on his family’s farm with planning permission for a timber frame, three-bedroom house in a one-acre field. The foundation work has already begun and he hopes to have the home built in the next year. Prior to this he renovated his family's home as well as doing several DIY projects, including installing a shower, building sheds, and livestock fences and shelters for the farm’s animals. Outside of homebuilding, Joseph loves rugby and has written for Rugby World, the world’s largest rugby magazine.
