A derelict former Scout hut which was marketed as a potential gym could now be demolished to make way for a house. The oak-clad building looks like something from the backwoods of Scandinavia and is partially surrounded by trees and has a stream one one side, despite being in a built-up suburb of Swansea.
The land is accessed by a lane linking Glanmor Park Road and Parc Wern Road, Sketty, and had become increasingly overgrown. Some trees have been felled and others thinned, in consultation with Swansea Council, since the hut - Pinewood Lodge - was bought by property developer Paul James.
Mr James, of P & C Properties Ltd, initially planned to refurbish the lodge into a gym and lease it out. There was interest from potential occupiers - particularly the prospect of exercise classes in the grounds - but a lack of parking put them off. Mr James said he didn't want to cause parking problems locally, so decided to build a home for him and his wife. Council officers are assessing his planning application.
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"The building is quite dilapidated with an old asbestos roof but clad in thick oak boards which have been there for decades," said Mr James, of Mumbles. "We have tried to achieve a low rise dormer design which is mixing modern and contemporary architecture and which is unobtrusive to the surrounding neighbours, including Trinity Chapel. We also plan to recycle all of the oak cladding internally and externally in the new build."
He said he was aiming for "a beautiful home in a magical setting". Mr James, who is originally from the Sketty area, said public access on the lane would remain as it is, and that he would park on Glanmor Park Road.
A document submitted as part of the application said the house would be on the same footprint as Pinewood Lodge and would be largely single-storey in terms of its scale and design, with three of the four bedrooms on the ground floor. It said the house wouldn't negatively impact the adjacent Trinity Chapel, which is listed.
The Scouts vacated Pinewood Lodge in 2016 due to its deteriorating state and decided to sell it in 2020. A letter from the Glamorgan West Area Scout Council said the land was originally bought on a lease from the Glanmor Estate in 1956, or before. Pinewood Lodge was then built, and used by the Scouts for decades.
The Scouts considered repairing and refurbishing the building but decided it was too expensive, and the group which used to meet there has suitable alternative space. Regular checks were made on the building after it was vacated, and there was evidence of attempted break-ins and drug-taking.
The letter said: "All in all, the decision to sell the site has proved to be a good one for Scouting. Apart from not now having a building and site that continued to deteriorate, the funds raised from the sale have been used to improve the facilities within the local Scout area, such developing our Scout campsites, improving some of our other buildings, and developing water and land-based activities, all for the benefit of the young people."
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