A PLANNING Inquiry has been opened to decide on the £50m investment of the former Cwrt-y-Gollen army camp into a development of housing, recreation and employment opportunities.

The planning officers at the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority had recommended approval in June 2010 for an outline scheme for 200 homes and ancillary works.

However, members of the planning committee overturned the recommendation and refused the application.

The owner of the land, Crickhowell Estates, then appealed against the decision which has led to the planning inquiry being held at Clarence Hall in Crickhowell this week.

Planning inspector Alwyn Nixon heard from representatives from local groups and organisations opposed to the scheme as well as opening statements from legal representatives of Crickhowell Estates and the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority.

Adrian Trevelyan-Thomas, heading the legal team for Crickhowell Estates told the gathering of around 100 people attending the inquiry that 200 houses had been assigned for the site in the local authority's Unitary Development Plan.

He said: "The UDP states that the site is suitable for mixed use as residential, employment and recreation. The UDP inspector also agreed to this figure, however the Parks Authority chose not to take his advice or their own recommendation and grant outline planning permission for the Crickhowell Estates plans."

Mr Trevelyan-Thomas explained that a number of outlying buildings had already been demolished as they were derelict. He went on to outline the scheme's proposals that among the 200 homes there would be a care home and a children's nursery, adding that of the 200 homes 30 per cent would be made up of affordable housing. A community parkland would also be created and a cycle path.

A number of the army's buildings would be retained including the museum, the gymnasium and the cricket pavilion which would be converted into a tennis club.

Mr Trevelyan-Thomas revealed that as part of the Section 106 agreement which benefits the local community, they would make a number of 'hefty investments'.

He added: "There is provision for £125,000 to be made available to upgrade Glangrwyney village hall, if they would accept the offer and we've set aside substantial funding to provide an extra bus service to the village."

But Geoffrey Stephenson representing the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority said: "To Add 200 housing units to the existing 100-odd in Glangrwyney plus other non residential units, will treble the size of the existing residential population.

"Clearly that will have a major effect on the form and character of this village."

Mr Stephenson pointed out that the camp had originally been the grounds of a stately home which had burnt down and added: "This site was compulsorily purchased by the government during the Second World War for the benefit of the American army.

"The British Army then took the over the camp. But when the Ministry of Defence no longer had any use for the site in 1999, the ownership reverted back to the descendants of the original owner.

"So why should Crickhowell Estates benefit from this windfall, it's paramount to building in the open countryside and is not really a brownfield site because it was compulsory purchased."

The inquiry is expected to last until February 25.