Here’s a summary of some of the applications discussed at this month’s Planning Committee meeting. You can watch the meeting here – Part 1, Part 2.
Police tactical training centre granted permission
Members granted planning permission for a new police tactical training centre at Felindre Road in Pencoed (pdf).
The facility – which straddles the border between Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taf (pictured above) – would include indoor firearms and tactical training areas, as well as a mock urban environment for firearms and tactical training.
A separate planning application for accompanying outdoor works has been submitted to RCT Council.
The facility would be only the seventh of its kind in the UK and would be used not only by South Wales Police but other police forces too.
Concerns were raised by Cllr. Alex Williams (Ind, Pencoed & Penprysg), Pencoed Town Council and nearby residents about noise, its proximity to Pencoed Cemetery and potential flood risks from the Ewenni Fach (which runs through the site).
There were questions from members on the potential impact on wildlife in and around the site, though planning officers believe the proposed enhancements in and around the development would be suitable for protected species such as dormice.
Coity Road bedsit plan approved despite concerns around overconcentration
The committee also unanimously approved an application to convert a house on Coity Road in Bridgend town centre into a bedsit/House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) with five bedrooms (pdf). The HMO would be used as temporary accommodation.
Bridgend Town Council opposed the application as they believed it would lead to an “over-intensification” of HMOs in the Coity Road area. They also disputed the homelessness figures provided by the Welsh Government.
Ward member (and town councillor), Cllr. Steven Bletsoe (Ind, Bridgend Central), objected on similar grounds with Cornerstone House, Vesta Court and Ty Ogwr all being near one another.
In planning terms, the change of use to an HMO is deemed to be acceptable and there “is no evidence….to suggest that the area is oversubscribed with HMOs”.
While the planning officer accepted that overconcentration of HMOs does cause issues in university towns and cities, the existing 15 HMOs in Bridgend town were not on the same scale of intensification.
Councillors were reminded that where HMO operators are not working within the terms of their licence, the licence can be withdrawn.
