Residents of New Quay have revolted against plans for an affordable homes scheme, mounting a £6,000 legal challenge to stop 30 affordable homes from being built, according to multiple reports. A GoFundMe campaign has raised over £6,000 to save the car park and stop the development. Opponents are worried that people from Birmingham might move to New Quay and bring anti-social behavior, and they flooded the council's planning portal with concerns about antisocial behavior.
The town council argued that removing parking spaces would affect local traders and raised concerns about the types of affordable housing needed, while the New Quay Traders Association raised significant economic objections to the development. 5 million affordable housing development over the Central Car Park in New Quay, with the 30 properties resulting in up to 98 additional permanent inhabitants. New Quay was crowned Britain's best seaside destination last year, according to multiple reports, and 26% of all dwellings in New Quay are second homes or holiday lets.
Barcud is challenging the planning refusal with an appeal to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW). According to the Save New Quay Car Park campaign on social media, the council's planning and highways departments supported the plans and recommended approval, but the community did not accept that, leading to a refusal that proved community action works, with Barcud now appealing and public money being used to overturn the decision. It is unknown how many parking spaces would be removed or what types of affordable housing are proposed, and no evidence has been provided to support claims about antisocial behavior from Birmingham.