Bridgend Council and the Welsh Government have submitted the first planning application related to the Porthcawl seafront regeneration project.

They are seeking full permission to build an access road between Griffin Park and Sandy Bay (called the spine road).

In addition, they are seeking outline planning permission for the remainder of the project. This includes:

• 980 homes (across the entire regeneration area).
• An extension to Griffin Park (called “Coney Beach Park”) and new landscaped parks/gardens near Rhych Point.
• Commercial and leisure-focused developments at Salt Lake and Coney Beach.
• Improvements to coastal flood defences at Sandy Bay.
• An extension of Eastern Promenade to Salt Lake, and across Coney Beach as a boardwalk.
• An additional 750 parking spaces across the regeneration area.

The spine road – which would start at a new roundabout near Aldi – would run across the current Coney Beach site towards Sandy Bay. It will include raised zebra crossings and pre-built access points to development sites.

The application also includes a new phasing schedule. This sets out the expected order in which the sites will be developed (though no dates are given):

• Phase 1A – The spine road, enabling works, and ecological/drainage works at the Monster Park, Sandy Bay and Coney Beach.
• Phase 1B – “Sandy Bay Village” housing development and public open space improvements (“Sandy Bay Gardens”.
• Phase 2A – Hillsboro Car Park & Portway Roundabout landscaping.
• Phase 2B – Salt Lake South/Harbour.
• Phase 3 – Salt Lake North/Promenade.
• Phase 4 – Coney Beach seafront mixed-use development.
• Phase 5 – Newton Primary School expansion.