Plans have been submitted for a new housing development in Port Talbot on the site of a former comprehensive school. The plans have been submitted by housing association Linc Cymru.
The proposed plans for new homes at the former Dyffryn Lower Comprehensive School in Devonshire Place, Port Talbot, could see the construction of 43 affordable properties, built with an internal road network, landscaping, and car parking.
Read more: Planning application submitted for new Greggs in Port Talbot
The school site, which is based in a residential area, was fully vacated in 2018 and has been left derelict since it closed, with developer Linc Cymru describing the location as "significantly underutilised." Its application describes the plans that would include a mixture of two-storey houses and three-storey apartment blocks, comprised of 18 one-bed flats, six two-bed flats, eight two-bed houses, and 11 three-bed homes.
The plan reads: "The proposed layout comprises two main elements, the residential development and the area of public open space. The residential development takes the form of 2-storey terraced houses, 2-storey walk-up apartments, and 3-storey apartment blocks situated within the south-eastern corner. The scale of the apartment blocks is intentionally modest, and they are set within the site so as to not overshadow neighbouring properties or alter the scale of the area."
However, Labour councillor Saifur Rahaman of Port Talbot, said he believed there could be a number of issues with the plans that could potentially impact residents. He said: "When the land was initially sold it was done so on the basis of a different set of proposals which people were happy with. However, the land has since been sold on again to Linc Cymru, with a whole new set of proposals that do not match up to what was originally planned.
"The new proposal has far more units, and I have some concerns about the traffic management for the area - with there already being issues that could cause chaos. The elevation of the apartment blocks could also have a visual impact as well. I've now asked for the application to be called to a committee and we've already had two public meetings with a number of objections from residents."
The plans, which are due to go before the council's planning department later this year, have currently received more than 70 comments on the authority's planning portal, 69 of which are objections. You can read more of our stories from Neath Port Talbot here, or subscribe to our newsletter here.
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