A former concrete pipeworks site in Pontarddulais is to make way for 55 new houses and flats. Swansea Council's planning committee unanimously approved the proposal on land north of football pitches and Coed Bach Park on the advice of officers.
Developer Hygrove Holdings will provide six affordable units out of the 55 and contribute £184,756 as an education contribution. A report before the committee said that nine rather than six affordable units would have made the scheme policy compliant, but a housing officer accepted the lower offer from the developer as long it provided a satisfactory viability assessment.
The council looked into the viability assessment submitted and estimated that the development would yield a 12.3% profit for Hygrove Holdings, based on six affordable units and the education contribution, which was below the 15% minimum profit margin set out in planning guidance. The report said "it was accepted that, in this instance, the development would not be able to provide a policy compliant level of affordable housing provision whilst providing the developer with an acceptable return".
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Planning agent Geraint John, on behalf of Hygrove Holdings, said the applicant "has worked tirelessly" to overcome previous concerns about the development - which will be mostly two and three-bed homes - as had planning officers.
Committee member Phil Downing, who represents Pontarddulais, said he felt the right recommendation for a "very, very difficult" site had been made by officers. But he wanted to know at what stage of the development the benefits arising from a legal agreement between Hygrove Holdings and the council would be delivered - a process known as trigger points.
Cllr Sara Keeton said the gardens looked "incredibly small", while Cllr Mike White said he wouldn't want the education contribution to be negotiated downwards at a later date. A planning officer said trigger points would be discussed as part of the legal agreement, and that the gardens complied with planning guidance despite those round the edges of the development being "a little bit more squeezed".
The 55 properties will range from two-bed flats to four-bedroom houses, have one or two parking spaces each, and be accessed from Llys Morfydd. A path for cyclists and pedestrians will run east-west through the site and onto Coed Bach Road.
Pontarddulais had a population of 6,600 in 2017, according to the report, and objectors to the application - including the town council - said it was over-developed and under pressure, with other residential schemes in the pipeline. Another objection said the M4 junction at nearby Hendy required urgent work.
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