A huge 900-home development and potentially a new school could transform a large area of Porthcawl under new proposals. The plans will go out for consultation this month after Bridgend Council announced it was seeking views on proposals for its ongoing regeneration of the area.
The houses would be based on almost 20 hectares of land in the Sandy Bay and Griffin Park area which could become part of a major development that would reshape the front of the popular seaside town in the coming years. The council will soon publicise a notice of intention outlining how it intends to appropriate the land and consider any representations that may be received before making a decision.
Under council plans the site, which includes the popular amusement park, will become available for a mixed-use development that would include retail, commercial, recreational, and housing and leisure opportunities. With Griffin Park expanded and approximately 900 homes introduced to the site alongside facilities for new businesses and visitors a new road would also be constructed and there would also either be a new school or expanded educational facilities. It is a development that would run alongside the previously-announced construction of a new Aldi store to be built on Salt Lake car park’s north side.
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Councillor Neelo Farr, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "The proposed appropriation represents an exciting and important step in unlocking the potential of the waterfront area and forms an essential part of our ongoing overall regeneration plans for Porthcawl. By definition appropriation is a formal legal process which enables land to be transferred from one use to another for planning purposes. Cabinet previously agreed in principle to appropriate this land for alternative use in order to deliver upon its full potential so I am pleased to see that the regeneration plans are progressing and that we are now in a position to take this forward. As we also want to continue to work closely alongside our partners and local residents to deliver this for the benefit of the entire community I hope that people will study the plans and make full use of this opportunity to have their say on the proposals."
However Porthcawl Town Council member Brian Jones said he was convinced that more thought needed to go into the proposals before they went ahead. He said: "There’s a lot of space here and I want to make sure it is used properly for something that benefits all the people of Porthcawl. At the moment I don’t think it does that as not enough thought has gone into the proposal.
"There are already big issues with parking in Porthcawl so to add another 900 homes here without proper consideration of parking and other amenities could be quite harmful to the community. There is also the potential for a new road system to cut through the lower half of Griffin Park taking away much needed leisure facilities in the tennis courts, veterans hut, and local bowls club.
"You also have to consider the High Tide caravan park in Sandy Bay, one of the biggest employers in the town, who could be greatly affected by such a development. These plans will change the area entirely so I just hope people make their voices heard throughout the consultation period now."
All comments received about the proposals will be reported to cabinet before a final decision is made. You can view the plans online by visiting the consultations page at www.bridgend.gov.uk.You can read more of our stories about Porthcawl here.
