Council approve new £12m school

A £12 million school is to be built in Penlan after being unanimously approved by Swansea Council’s planning committee.

The new YGG Tirdeunaw will take shape on land at YGG Bryn Tawe, off Heol Gwyrosydd.

Questions were asked at the committee meeting about fire safety measures, but a planning officer said these would be dealt with under separate legislation.

YGG Tirdeunaw is currently based next to the former Daniel James School at Heol Ddu – less than a mile away – and it is anticipated the new primary will be ready in 2021.

Its current 480 primary and nursery places will rise to 600, along with a new Flying Start centre.

The new primary may share improved sports facilities with its secondary school neighbour and also a new bus drop-off area, which will be separate from the access to Penlan Leisure Centre.

The new primary will also have 63 staff parking spaces, 40 bike spaces and 16 drop-off spaces for cars.

Two junior-sized sports pitches will replace a large playing field area, which the council said was under-used.

The wider public is expected to be able to use the two new pitches outside of school hours.

Pupils will also have a new multi-use games area, while there are separate proposals for a 3G pitch at YGG Bryn Tawe.

Sport Wales originally objected to the YGG Tirdeunaw proposal due to the redevelopment of the large playing field and the ability of the junior pitches to accommodate community use.

It later withdrew the objection, noting the presence of six nearby pitches at Mynydd Newydd, although the planning report before the committee said Sport Wales “would prefer to have clear evidence rather than anecdotal statements”.

A member of the public objected, saying roads near the site were congested.

Permission has already been granted for a new YGG Tan-y-lan at a site in Clase. Once both projects are completed there will be an additional 409 places at Welsh medium primary schools in Swansea.

But YGG Felindre and Craigcefnparc Primary School have closed, despite campaigns to keep them open.

Speaking after the planning meeting, Councillor Jennifer Raynor, cabinet member for education, said: “I’m pleased that the plans for YGG Tirdeunaw have been approved so now we can press ahead and appoint a contractor to deliver this exciting scheme.”

Improvements are also scheduled at Bishopston Comprehensive and Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr.

Cllr Raynor added: “We want to ensure that we give all our young people the best possible opportunity to reach their full potential, and providing modern surroundings with state-of-the-art facilities help pupils and teachers to achieve this.”