Yesterday (21st August 2025), Bridgend Council’s Planning Committee discussed whether to grant the developers of the Pentre Felin estate in Tondu (Llanmoor Homes) more time to deliver a “mini-bypass” (pdf).
As part of the original planning application, a mini-bypass redirecting Maesteg Road to the Lidl/Ffordd Antwn roundabout would need to be delivered before 136 homes are built and occupied.
Llanmoor Homes applied to change the condition to 235 homes, which they expect to reach in summer 2027.
New transport assessment “robust”; questions over Llanmoor Homes’ commitment to delivering the road
In the report, Bridgend Council’s Highways Department had no objections. They were satisfied that the new traffic assessment supplied by Llanmoor Homes showed lower-than-expected traffic growth (4% compared to the estimated 10%).
Planning officers also considered the new traffic assessment to be “thorough and robust”. They agreed that the mini-bypass could be delayed without causing a significant traffic issue. There was no evidence that the existing junctions were “inherently unsafe”.
Residents “won’t believe” traffic assessment
The proposal drew significant local opposition.
Newcastle Higher Community Council, Tondu & Aberkenfig Residents Association, Cllr. Tim Thomas (Ind, St Bride’s Minor & Ynysawdre) and Cllr. Heidi Bennett (Lab, Penyfai) all objected, alongside 38 individual letters of objection from residents.
You can read the full reasons for objection in the report itself. In summary, the objections relate to:
- Pre-existing traffic and road safety issues at the Tondu bridge junction and along the A4063 in the Llynfi Valley more generally.
- Disagreement with the traffic assessment suggesting that more homes could be built without impacting traffic, as this doesn’t match what residents experience daily.
- Questioning whether Llanmoor Homes is committed to meeting planning conditions, as clearance work for the road began, then abruptly stopped.
During the meeting committee member and local ward member, Cllr. Gary Haines (Lab, Aberkenfig), said the suggestion that a delay in delivering the new road would have no impact locally would be met with “derision” by residents who would find it “extremely difficult to believe”.
Cllr. Haines feared this would be the first step towards Llanmoor failing to complete the road at all. What was to stop the developer from coming back at a later date and arguing that the road wasn’t needed?
One day’s worth of traffic data “not good enough”
Cllr. Mark John (Ind, St. Bride’s Minor & Ynysawdre) criticised the report itself, describing it as “poor”. Councillors were often told not to ignore officer recommendations because it could cost BCBC money (through appeals), yet this decision focused on Llanmoor’s finances to an extent.
Cllr. John also criticised the traffic assessment, which took place on a single day. You would expect an assessment like this to use road ribbons/sensors and last for several weeks.
These comments were echoed by Cllr. Simon Griffiths (Lab, Brackla East & Coychurch), who didn’t think a one-day traffic assessment was robust enough. There was a possibility that only the most favourable day was been picked to present the figures in the best light.
A planning officer told members that, ultimately, these things are decided on technical evidence rather than everyday experiences. Anecdotal evidence still has merit, but wouldn’t be considered by a planning inspector at an appeal. Developers are allowed to apply for planning conditions to be changed, but this has to be based on evidence as well.
Additionally, officers said that BCBC’s traffic consultants were happy with a one-day traffic assessment, which generated over 700 pages of information for review.
Furthermore, councillors had to have a sense of perspective. All that was being asked was a delay of up to 18 months or so for the delivery of a link road. That road won’t be a “cure-all” for problems at the Tondu junction. The best long-term solution would be for the public to make a choice not to drive and use alternative transport.
Llanmoor agrees to 5-day traffic assessment
Cllr. Griffiths suggested that the application is deferred/delayed, subject to a more detailed traffic assessment that takes place for five separate days across three weeks.
Following a private discussion between officers and the managing director of Llanmoor Homes (who was in the public gallery), Llanmoor proposed a five-day assessment for one week at the start of the autumn school term in September.
As a compromise, an amendment was tabled by Cllr. Griffiths. The amendment said that if this new traffic information doesn’t result in any change to the facts presented in the report, the Committee would grant planning officers the power to approve the application on the Committee’s behalf (called delegated powers). Presumably, if the new traffic figures are significantly different, the decision would go back to the Committee (though I’m not entirely sure about that).
This amendment was agreed unanimously by the committee.
