Just under 100 houses and flats will be built on grazing land in Loughor, right next to another new estate. Swansea Council's planning committee unanimously approved an application by social housing provider Pobl Group and housebuilder Jehu Group for 98 homes on land south of Glebe Road.
The site in question was earmarked for 60 houses when Swansea's local development plan was drawn up. However, planning report before the committee said higher densities could be justified subject to certain criteria being met.
Pobl Group had wanted 103 homes to be built but scaled it back to 98. The five units dropped were affordable ones but there will still be 37 of them throughout the estate.
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There were 95 letters of objection about the application, and an objector addressed the planning committee to express concerns about the volume of traffic he predicted would impact nearby Brynllwchwr Road. He also objected to the reduced number of affordable units. You can read about another new housing scheme in Swansea here.
Cllr Christine Richards, who represents Lower Loughor, said she was concerned that the consultation period for the application ended on April 11 - six days after the committee meeting. She added that green spaces and wildlife had to be protected, and said Brynllwchwr Road was already used as a "rat run".
Cllr Richards was also aggrieved that no financial contributions were proposed for Casllwchwr Primary School, which she claimed was the catchment area school, as part of any planning consent. She declared an interest as she is a governor at the school.
Planning agent Phil Baxter, on behalf of the applicants, said the proposal still included a significant number of affordable units - the requirement for that part of Swansea is a 15% affordable provision. He added: "The site can easily accommodate 98 houses."
The sloping site will be accessed via Heol Pen Y Beili to the north-west, and Heol Y Wern to the south-west. Protected trees are to be retained in the middle section, and new new trees to be planted. There will also be further landscaping, play areas, and a drainage pond.
Upper Loughor councillor Robert Smith said he did not support the proposal, although he was glad a pedestrian crossing would be installed on Glebe Road. The scheme, he said, would herald "the final coalescence between Upper Loughor and Lower Loughor".
Members of the committee wondered if they should defer a decision because the consultation period was still running, but were advised a decision could be made and then formally issued after April 11, as long as no new substantive issues were raised in the meantime.
A planning officer said this situation was "far from ideal" but that it had occurred before. It was said that a decision was "time sensitive" due to the applicants' need to secure Welsh Government funding towards the estate. Next door, to the east, Barratt Homes has built a 92-home development.
As part of the planning approval, Pobl Group and Jehu Group must contribute £332,200 towards Tre-Uchaf primary and YGG Pontybrenin. They must also fork out £30,000 to upgrade a multi-use games area at Parc Williams, Loughor, and £63,500 for highways and rights of way improvements.
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