Go ahead for housing development on former Maesteg primary school site

THE site of a former infants school that was closed over 10 years ago in Maesteg will now be turned into a new housing complex, it has been announced.

The former Blaenllynfi Infant School off Grosvenor Terrace in Caerau is set to be transformed in to 20 affordable homes after an application from Pendragon Ltd was brought before Bridgend County Borough Council’s planning committee on August 25.

Council bosses heard how the former infants school was demolished after it closed in 2009 due to Blaenllynfi Infant School and Blaencaerau Junior School joining to form Caerau Primary School, with the site remaining unused ever since.  It will now be developed in to housing, after all but two members of the council voted to approve the plans.

The site which sits on a triangular piece of land bounded by Grosvenor Terrace to the west, will consist of of three types of residential buildings when completed, including two four bedroom houses, four two bedroom houses, and sixteen one bedroom walk up flats.  It will be entered at two access points located off Grosvenor Terrace.

While there had been some questions about access for emergency services and waste vehicles to the development, officers were satisfied that the layout allowed them to safely enter and manoeuvre around the site.

Other stipulations for the plans stated that members of the public must be allowed to use the active travel link through to Library Road via the private road, and that the developers provide a financial contribution of £37,198 towards education provision, as well as  £11,380 towards outdoor sport provision in the vicinity of the application site.

The conclusion of the approved application read:

“The development complies with Council policy and guidelines. It encourages active travel and is in a sustainable location and it is considered that the scheme would not have an unacceptable impact on the character of the existing property, street scene or wider area.

“The issues raised in the representations received have been taken into account during the determination of the application, however it is considered that on balance they do not outweigh the other material considerations in favour of the development.”