NATIONAL Park planners are due to discuss an application for an eco-smallholding just below Carningli Mountain in Newport.

Ms S Gillooley has sought permission for the development on 2.6 hectares of land adjacent to Castle Hill. It includes a new dwelling as well as greenhouse, barn and associated trackways and parking.

The application is made under the One Planet Development, which requires applicants to be mostly self-sufficient in terms of food, income, energy and waste.

The small-holding would be based on keeping sheep, growing lavender plants for sale and crafts, raising chickens for eggs and meat, and keeping six hives for honey production.

Newport Town Council said it could not support the plans, stating the Community Impact Assessment had not been fully complied with and that there had been no community consultation.

Thirteen letters of objection were also received. Among the points raised were: The site is unsuitable, the track would exacerbate surface water in wet weather, the applicant’s predictions of self-sufficiency are misguided, increase in traffic, and no community or public benefit.

Dyfed Archaeological Trust recommended that a historic environment appraisal be carried out before a decision. It said the application site lies within the Registered Historic Landscape of Special Historic Interest in Wales, and within a short distance of several sites of historical and archaeological significance.

In its consultation response it said: “In terms of this development, we cannot guarantee that buried archaeology does not extend to the development area and will therefore be damaged or destroyed.”

Despite the objections, the application is recommended for conditional approval. The application will be discussed at the National Park’s Development Management Committee on Wednesday, January 27.