Bridgend Council’s Planning Committee has granted permission for a new Bridgend College campus at Cheapside in Bridgend town centre (pdf).
The main building would be built at the former Bridgend police station – recently demolished and cleared – with a smaller “tower” built on the Cheapside multi-storey car park (set to be demolished soon).
The main building will house the College’s performing arts, catering, visual arts, business, cosmetology/hair & beauty, additional learning needs (ALN) and independent living skills (ILS) departments. There’ll also be a 200-seat auditorium, student support centre and administration offices.
The tower building will house a cafe run by the college’s ILS students, additional administration offices, as well as teaching spaces for the College’s childcare, social care, health & wellbeing and higher education courses.
There were no objections from statutory consultees, though Bridgend Town Council raised concerns about the architectural design, the lack of a bridge connecting the tower and main building and a lack of parking spaces (39 on-site spaces).
Parking concerns dominate meeting
Almost all of the comments on the application during the meeting related to parking – to the point that councillors were repeating each other.
Ward member, Cllr. Freya Bletsoe (Ind, Oldcastle), believed the project is overall a positive, but parking will be an issue. While it’ll be partially addressed by residential parking restrictions in adjacent streets, not all streets are covered by that at the moment.
Bridgend town councillor, Cllr. David Unwin (Ind), though the college should look at using the former Lorne Stewart site on Brackla Street as an overflow car park. There were also questions over the long-term viability of student bus services.
Cllr. Heidi Bennett (Lab, Penyfai) made the point that not all parts of the county are well served by public transport and that walking and cycling infrastructure isn’t good enough yet. People will drive regardless.
Andrew Gibbs, Vice-Principal of Bridgend College, said the merits of project were clearly outlined. It’s the single biggest investment the college has made in its history. The potential was there to regenerate the town centre and it also meets the Welsh Government’s “town centre first” policy for public investment.
Planning Officer, Rhodri Davies, told councillors that there was sufficient capacity at other car parks within the town centre to meet demand from students and staff. The Lorne Stewart site was likely to be used as a construction compound during development.
An audit of the most popular walking and cycling routes to and from the new campus will be undertaken with the developer to identify potential improvements.
College “will almost certainly” have to sell Cowbridge Road site
Parking aside, Cllr. Mark John (Ind, St. Bride’s Minor & Ynysawdre) on the future of the existing Cowbridge Road campus.
Corporate Director for Communities, Janine Nightingale, told councillors the existing campus is designated for education purposes in the Local Development Plan.
However, given that Bridgend College has to contribute 30% of the costs of the new campus, a lot of that value will be tied up in the Cowbridge Road site and they will likely have to sell it at some point in the future.
Approved subject to conditions
The application was approved unanimously by the committee.
There are 38 conditions and advisory notes including:
- A new design for the main entrance (facing Brackla Street) so it’s more prominent.
- Both buildings have to open at the same time.
- A new college travel plan, submitted within 6 months, covering both bus services and active travel. This will be reviewed annually.
- Noise and traffic controls during construction.
- A full landscaping scheme.
- Improved anti-trespass measures next to the railway.
