The Petitions Committee has agreed to put questions regarding the Upper Cosmeston Farm development to the Welsh Minister for Finance, Rebecca Evans.

This came during a virtual meeting on Tuesday 15 December after a campaign to "Save the farmland and green fields at Cosmeston" garnered over 5,000 signatures.

The petition urged the Welsh Government to "withdraw their plans for a 576 housing units development on the scenic coastal fields and farmland at Lower Cosmeston Farm, Cosmeston."

It called on Welsh Ministers "to adhere to their environmental and climate change policies and to the principles of the well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2005."

During the short consideration of the petition, Michelle Brown MS (Independent) proposed, "I would like to write back to the Minister (Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance) to share the concerns raised by the petitioner and ask for these to be considered by the Welsh Government in relation to the development, and I also seek a response to the specific points raised by the petitioner.

"I would also like to ask Welsh Government how they are balancing protecting the environment versus their desire to build."

Leanne Wood MS (Plaid Cymru) agreed the proposal, together with Jack Sargent MS (Welsh Labour) and Committee Chair, Janet Finch Saunders MS (Welsh Conservatives).

The Minister of Finance (Ms Evans) last month (November 23) expressed her support for the development.

In a letter to Michael Garland, Chair of Keep Cosmeston Green and author of the petition, she wrote, "I do not consider the application should be withdrawn as to do so would result in the failure of the Welsh Government to deliver much needed affordable homes and would run counter to the strategy identified in the adopted Vale of Glamorgan Local Development Plan which sees this site as key to helping to address the identified housing need in the area."

Mr Garland replied to this on 6 December. He outlined 11 areas of concern (including environmental standards, inadequate infrastructure and procedural fairness) before again demanding, "that the Welsh Government withdraw this planning application in order to stop the urbanisation of our countryside and conserve the landscape, amenity, environment, biodiversity and historical heritage for future generations to come."

The Petitions Committee will now put these concerns to Ms Evans alongside the broader question of how the Welsh Government aims to balance its housing and environmental responsibilities.

Mr Garland has referred to the decision as "helpful, as it maintains public and Welsh Government awareness to the Keep Cosmeston Green campaign."