Image Source: via Bridgend County Borough Council
Oggy Bloggy Ogwr doesn’t receive any subsidy and isn’t funded by the BBC. If you like what I’m doing here and think this work is important in keeping locals informed of what’s happening in Bridgend, consider a donation. Â One-off or monthly; as little or as much as you want. Click the links below, or full details are available here.
Bridgend Council’s Planning Committee has rejected an application from Codi Group housing association (formerly Linc) for a development of 43 affordable and social apartments at the former Fulgoni’s restaurant in Porthcawl town centre (pdf).
The development would have been for people aged 55 and over.
Some changes had been made to the original proposal. The exterior design of the building changed, while a commercial/community space was proposed for the ground floor.
Application received a significant number of objections
While there were no objections from statutory consultees, there was a formal objection from Porthcawl Town Council. They believe that not enough parking spaces were put forward, and traffic assessments didn’t take into account peak levels during the summer months.
They also objected to a 5-storey development being out of keeping with the surrounding area, though planning officers say that most of the frontage is a similar height to other buildings on John Street.
Cllr Graham Walter (Lab, Porthcawl East Central) objected because, amongst other things, the development was an overintensification of the site and would result in the loss of commercial space in the town centre.
90 objections were received from neighbours, with only one letter of support.
Scale of development leads to thumbs down
Reflecting the objections to the scheme, committee members discussed the height of the building.
Cllr. Della Hughes (Ind, Ogmore Vale) and Cllr. Ian Spiller (Ind, Bryntirion, Laleston & Merthyr Mawr) argued that the graphic provided in the report didn’t make it clear how tall the building actually was because of its perspective.
Planning officers explained that the height will be in keeping with proposed developments at Salt Lake as part of the regeneration scheme.
Cllr. Jonathan Pratt (Con, Newton) made the point that many affordable housing schemes such as this were aimed at the over-55s and not enough was being done to provide more local affordable housing in Porthcawl for younger people.
Cllr. Ian Williams (Ind, Oldcastle) suggested that the number of parking spaces was far below what the council’s own planning guidance suggested – which an officer confirmed could be a maximum of 43 spaces (plus EV and cycle spaces) compared to the proposed 26.
There was an expectation that the residents would have lower levels of car ownership, but Cllr. Spiller wasn’t satisfied that there was enough evidence to support this presumption.
There was a recorded vote:
Vote: Apartment development at former Fulgoni's restaurant
For (6)
- Cllr. Johanna Llewellyn-Hopkins (Lab, Brackla West)
- Cllr. Richard Collins (Lab, Maesteg West)
- Cllr. Richard Granville (Lab, Cornelly)
- Cllr. Richard Williams (Lab, Pencoed & Penprysg)
- Cllr. Simon Griffiths (Lab, Brackla East & Coychurch)
- Cllr. William Kendall (Lab, Brackla East Central)
Against (7)
- Cllr. Alan Wathan (Ind, Coity Higher)
- Cllr. David Harrison (Ind, Cefn Glas)
- Cllr. Della Hughes (Ind, Ogmore Vale)
- Cllr. Ian Spiller (Ind, Bryntirion, Laleston & Merthyr Mawr)
- Cllr. Ian Williams (Ind, Oldcastle)
- Cllr. Jonathan Pratt (Con, Newton)
- Cllr. Mark John (Ind, St. Bride’s Minor & Ynysawdre)
The formal objections were listed by Cllr. Spiller. These included the scale/height of the proposed development, inconsistent visual information in the report and concerns around parking. These will need to be presented at the next planning committee meeting.
The developers will have the right to appeal to Welsh Government planning inspectors.
