Ninety temporary homes have been established in Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan, specifically for Ukrainian refugees and families on the council’s housing waiting list.
The council initiated the project using permitted development rights, which allowed them to bypass the immediate need for planning permission.
However, some local residents have expressed concerns, arguing that there should have been a consultation process, especially since several cabins are situated close to their back gardens.
Despite these objections, the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s planning and building control teams have since approved the project, granting permission for the cabins to remain for a minimum of five years.
Council leader Lis Burnett highlighted the importance of the site in alleviating pressure on the local housing stock, stating it “represents a far more dignified solution” compared to utilising hotels for accommodation.
Nonetheless, nearby residents continue to protest against the council’s handling of the project, raising funds to pursue legal action. Some have suggested that the site should have been repurposed for a new medical centre to relieve strain on local services.
In response, the council noted that discussions are ongoing with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board about potentially using the former Eagleswell Primary School site for health-related facilities.
One of the new tenants, Kateryna, who fled Ukraine with her son, Timur, in 2022, shared her experience with the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The pair moved into a hostel in July after spending two years with sponsors.
“Our sponsors, we are so grateful for them because they waited and waited and they didn’t ask us to leave them,” she remarked. “But the circumstances [became] worse and we had to move this summer.”
Currently, Kateryna and Timur are living in a small hostel room in Barry, alongside their two cats, as they await their move to the new development, now referred to as Heol Croeso.
She noted that the anticipated opening date for the site has been pushed back from June, adding, “It
probably wouldn’t be an issue if we would stay here for a month… but staying here longer and having to deliver my son to school every day, it affects me.”
Tenants moving into the new site will incur a weekly flat rate of £174.27, along with a £40.72 service charge for utilities, totalling £860 every four weeks.
