There were two main items up for discussion at this month’s planning committee meeting – available to watch here.
Blackmill estate extension approved
First up was an application from Barratt for 28 affordable homes on land between Cwm Felin and Isfryn Industrial Estate in Blackmill – pictured above (pdf).
An earlier application submitted in 2017 – proposing 36 homes – was refused on grounds including the development’s density and concerns about a proposed 5 metre-high acoustic fence to deal with noise from the industrial estate.
Barratt has submitted variants of the proposal down the years with the latest one deemed acceptable enough for planning officers to recommend approval.
The latest proposal – submitted in 2022 – includes a mix of 1-bedroom flats alongside 2 and 3-bedroom houses.
Ogmore Valley Community Council and a sizable number of local residents objected. Their grounds include Cwm Felin being an unadopted road, poor drainage on the land, lack of parking spaces and continued concerns over noise from the industrial estate.
During the committee meeting, there was a further detailed discussion on soundproofing and whether the new proposals were going to be effective.
In the plans, under new guidance the proposed apartment blocks will act as a permanent sound barrier, with habitable rooms moved to the front of the buildings with no rear access or gardens.
The application was eventually approved – subject to a Section 106 agreement – by 10 votes to 2 with 1 abstention.
The agreement requires the developer to transfer a minimum of 6 units to a registered social landlord (though it’s likely all of them will be), provide a watercourse management plan and enable full adoption of Cwm Felin by the council’s highways department (which an officer said was close to completion).
School hockey pitch upgrade approved
The Planning Committee also decided on an upgrade to sports facilities at Brynteg school (pdf) – part of a wider investment programme in similar facilities at schools around the county.
The current redgra hockey pitch in the lower school will be replaced with an all-weather surface, alongside new floodlights. Bat boxes, hedgerows and landscaping will also be provided to improve biodiversity.
The floodlights were one of the main objections from residents and Bridgend Town Council, as well as concerns around additional traffic on surrounding streets if the pitch is used for after-school-hours sports.
The committee approved the application unanimously, with conditions attached restricting floodlight use to 9pm on weekdays, 5pm on Saturdays, and 3pm on Sundays and bank holidays.
