Affordable housing approved on ‘eyesore’ site

Richard Youle, local democracy reporter

Plans for 34 affordable homes on derelict land which was ravaged by fire have been unanimously approved.

Swansea council’s planning committee heard more about the sloping site on Pentrechwyth Road, Bonymaen, which used to be home to businesses including a car wash, tyre business, paint and furniture shop, and a car showroom.

People living nearby have described it as an eyesore, but there were some concerns that the development could exacerbate parking issues in the area.

Council planning officers recommended the 10 houses and 24 flats for approval, subject to conditions and a requirement to pay a £46,144 education contribution.

Evacuation 

Fire tore across the site four years ago, leading to the evacuation of dozens of residents. Planning committee chairman, Cllr Paul Lloyd, who represents Bonymaen, said people in the area were very supportive of the proposed housing. “It brings wasteland back into use,” he said.

A planning officer said the two and three-bedroom houses would be built next to the road while the one and two-bedroom flats would be at the rear of the land, which is five metres lower. “The site currently offers very little in terms of visual interest,” he said.

The officer said there was the potential for land contamination and that council pollution control officers had recommended further site investigation but had not objected.

Parking spaces

A resident addressed the committee to say he supported new housing on the land but that not enough parking spaces would be provided. He asked: “Where is everyone going to park?” He said an adjacent flats’ development had underground parking, and claimed that speeding on Pentrechwyth Road was also an issue.

The plans show a total of 39 parking spaces for the 34 houses and flats, which is below the recommended level for a scheme of this size, but highways officers said the number was acceptable because of the proximity of a bus stop and lower car use more generally among affordable housing tenants.

Planning agent Richard Bowen, speaking on behalf of applicant, Pentrechwyth Road Ltd, said no statutory consultees had objected to the scheme and that Welsh Government grant funding would be offered towards its construction.

Members of the committee asked about the tenure of the properties and where bins would be collected from before voting in favour of the officers’ approval recommendation.

Caredig housing association had been involved in the proposed development, but it said this was no longer the case because it didn’t consider the scheme to be viable.