Outline plans for 104 housing association flats in Swansea's SA1 have been approved, despite concerns about the number of parking spaces. The 39 one-bedroom, 53 two-bedroom and 12 three-bedroom flats come with 93 spaces for cars.
A previously approved scheme for the Tawe riverside plot, opposite the Ice House, had 91 flats and 91 spaces but didn't materialise although some piling work was done. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Coastal Housing Group and Everstock Development Ltd are behind the new proposals, which an objector claimed fell short in terms of parking provision. Their email to the planning department said residents and businesses in SA1 already had significant parking issues. It added: "Allowing a development without its own adequate parking provision will further exacerbate an already highly emotive and contentious issue in the area."
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Ward councillor Sam Bennett said he welcomed affordable housing but claimed 125 parking spaces should be provided for residents and visitors, not 93, going by planning guidance. He said arguments that people in social housing were less likely to own a car than private occupiers had shown not to be the case in SA1.
Speaking at a council planning committee meeting, Cllr Peter Black took up the parking concerns. "Where are all the cars going to go?" he said. "Parking in the marina area is very difficult as it is. It just seems to me that this is going to cause problems in the future."
The planning report before the committee said vehicle ownership among social housing residents was lower, and that according to data from 2011 only 35% of home-owners in SA1 and neighbouring St Thomas owned a car. A planning officer told councillors that car parking standards in SA1 "have been below what we would normally achieve", but that this had helped generate a greater density of housing without leading to parking congestion on its streets. "We are quite satisfied that the parking is satisfactory," he said.
A highways officer said Coastal Housing Group would need to draw up and operate a car parking management plan for the development. The block of flats would be four to six storeys and include a ground floor cafe facing across the square to the Ice House, plus courtyards and greenery. Ground floor levels would be raised slightly to mitigate flood risk. Flats from the first floor upwards would be expected to have balconies.
Planning agent Phil Baxter, speaking on behalf of the applicants, said there had been no objections from statutory consultees and that there was a need for more affordable housing in the waterfront area. The proposal, he said, was for 100% affordable housing. He added that a care share scheme was proposed as well as the car parking management plan.
Coastal Housing Group and Everstock Development Ltd will need to submit a detailed application to the council about the scheme's appearance, layout and access to it, among other things. The committee voted in favour of the outline plans, with eight in support and two abstaining.
The planning report also revealed that an enquiry had been made last year about building a 99-bed care home at the site.
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