A COUNCIL’s planning service estimates it has contributed £104 million to the local economy and ranked itself as “good” for eight of 12 performance indicators.

The council’s own annual performance report, for 2024/2025, highlighted granting planning permission for two affordable housing sites, a motorway services which will deliver employment at Newhouse Farm Industrial Estate in Chepstow and a bio-fuel filling station next to the M4, at Magor, as major projects completed.

Andrew Jones, who was promoted to head of planning at Monmouthshire County Council in August, 2025, stated in the report: “Based on the performance information, we can be pleased with the service we deliver.”

The report said the council outperforms targets for determining major applications within eight weeks, or agreed timescales, as well as for determining all applications within the same periods while it approved 95 per cent of all applications received, which is above the target of 94 per cent.

A clear majority of refusals issued by the council which were taken to appeal were also confirmed, which also exceeded the target for a “good”........

© South Wales Argus