Plans to turn former Porth Infants school into social housing given go ahead

PLANS to turn a former Porth school into social housing have been given the green light.

The application from Cynon Taf Community Housing, which would involve the demolition of the former Porth Infants School on Mary Street, went before Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s planning committee on Thursday, October 6, where members approved it.

The plan is for 15 affordable homes made up of six two-bed houses and nine one-bed flats.

The houses will be on the higher north-western side of the site and be in two short terraces.

The planning report said the steepness of the site means the inside will be split over three floors with an enclosed rear garden and two off-street parking spaces per dwelling to the front.

The nine flats will be in a single block at the lower southern corner of the site and be accessed through communal entrances.

The report said that due to the level changes, the front will appear as a two-storey building but three storeys to the rear and each flat will have a single parking space.

The site will also be landscaped with a mixture of trees, shrubs and native scrub.

It will also have rain gardens, a community garden and raised beds for residents to plant.

No letters of objection were received by the council during the public consultation, the report said.

Planning officers recommended approval saying the proposed development is located within the settlement boundary where its sustainable location and the beneficial re-use of this previously developed land would comply with the policies in the Local Development Plan and Welsh planning policy.

They said:

“The design and layout of the development would provide an attractive use of the former school site and would be of an appearance and scale appropriate to the surrounding properties and street scene.”

They also said the fact that 100% of the properties would be affordable dwellings would provide a “welcome contribution towards local housing needs”.

Councillor Wendy Lewis said it’s very well laid out and that it’s a lovely site.

Councillor Gareth Hughes asked for some clarification on the waste collection situation as there have been issues with previous developments and the officer said there has been no objection raised by the waste and recycling department.

He suggested the applicant and the waste services department discuss the issue.

Cllr Lewis suggested having individual bin stores within the large bin store like has been done at other schemes.