Plans to redevelop the former Pontypridd Bingo Hall site and former M&S, Dorothy Perkins and Burtons buildings have received the support of councillors. At a cabinet meeting on Monday, May 15, councillors heard about the progress made on the Southern Gateway projects that are part of the Pontypridd Placemaking Plan.
They voted to support the design and redevelopment options and to consult with the public on the next steps. These include the former M&S, Dorothy Perkins and Burtons buildings and the former bingo hall and Angharad’s nightclub site.
On the former bingo hall and Angharad’s nightclub site, the council is considering developing an open space and bus bays. The report said that due to the recent and considerable downturn of the economy, the high inflation rate and general cost of living rises, the proposed hotel development for the site has become “unviable.”
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While the hotel proposal was supported in a consultation on the Pontypridd Placemaking Plan last year, the idea of the site being developed as an open space that expands the high street and potentially improves air quality was also raised, the council said. Other options are now being considered for the potential to create a high-quality public realm on the site, the council added.
The council is proposing to use a small section of the site to create a two-bay bus lay-by opposite the railway station to improve access at the southern end of the town. The council said there is also an opportunity to better integrate bus and rail journeys – particularly with the number of train journeys arriving in Pontypridd due to significantly increase with the South Wales Metro.
The council said that the bus bays would potentially require large structural changes to the former bingo hall site. The council bid for Cardiff Capital Region Transport Authority funding available in 2022/23 to develop the proposals and the council has also submitted a regional bid for £930,000 funding to Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund, to continue design work and start project delivery in 2023/2024.
The council said it has previously announced its riverside plaza vision for the site of the vacant buildings at 97-99a and 100-102 Taff Street which were home to M&S, Dorothy Perkins and Burtons The council said that the development provides an opportunity to improve the public realm and open the town towards the river – with the potential for leisure, commercial and retail use.
Welsh Government has approved £1.283m funding to demolish the buildings, with the grant being 70% of the cost. A demolition contractor has been appointed and preparatory work started on site at the end of March 2023 with the main demolition phase planned to start in June with the aim of completion by the winter.
The council said that the development will create better connections between the high street and riverside, open up views of the park, and include suitable infrastructure for pop-up markets and street food outlets. It said that there will be a much-improved approach to the park, while the development will also add protection from future flood events where possible.
Councillor Mark Norris said: “While I would have liked to have seen the large hotel as part of the rejuvenation of the town centre, it was clear from the private market responses we received that it would not be a viable venture at this time. However the revised proposals for the bingo hall site really do open up the bottom end of the town centre.
“It’ll bring in more light, improve public transport access and integrate seating areas, open spaces, planting and make an easy pedestrian and disabled access into the main square.” He said the opening up of the Marks and Spencers and Dorothy Perkins site on to the river and park will also create an airy and modern square that will have many potential uses for the future while also making it more resilient to flooding.
He said that it will mean that both ends of the town will then have multiple retail and tourism offerings going forward. Councillor Christina Leyshon said she’s “very pleased” with these proposals and that she feels it will open up the town to the lovely green river side makes the access to the park and Lido much easier.
Councillor Andrew Morgan said that, with funding already secured and with conversations going, he’s confident that the funding package will be realised without any problems.
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