The Planning Committee of Swansea Council is scheduled to consider an application to divert a public footpath in Pontardulais and review the council's performance in planning matters over the past year. The committee will also receive the minutes from its previous meeting for approval.

Application to Divert Public Footpath LC10 in Pontardulais

A report is scheduled for discussion regarding an application to divert public footpath LC10 in Pontardulais. The landowner, the Pontardulais Agricultural and Horticultural Society, has applied for the diversion, citing concerns about livestock safety due to walkers with dogs and the potential for disease transmission. The proposed new route is 340 metres long, slightly longer than the existing path, and involves a change in gradient.

Objections have been raised by the local Ramblers Group, who argue the proposed route lacks the scenic views of the existing path and may be less suitable in wet weather. They suggest fencing off the current footpath as an alternative. Another objector has raised concerns about the proposed route being very steep and slippery underfoot, potentially dangerous, and adding significant time to school journeys for local children. The report notes that the landowner will cover the costs associated with the diversion.

Planning Annual Performance Report 2025-26

The committee is also scheduled to review the Planning Annual Performance Report for 2025-26. This report details the performance of Swansea's planning service against national indicators, covering areas such as plan-making, efficiency, quality, engagement, and enforcement.

The report indicates that in 2025-26, the council determined 1,453 planning applications, with 92.2% of these being decided within the required timescales, a figure that is above the Welsh average. The service also performed well in determining applications within eight weeks, with 62.75% meeting this target, significantly higher than the Welsh average. However, the report highlights challenges in the enforcement service, where a backlog of cases persists despite an improvement in performance. The report also notes the impact of the Burry Inlet Inner, part of the Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries Special Area of Conservation (SAC), on the service's ability to deliver and facilitate development due to concerns about water quality.

The report details that the council's Local Development Plan (LDP) adopted in February 2019 has become time-expired, but it remains a significant material consideration. Work is advanced on the preparation of the LDP2, with public consultation anticipated in early 2027. The report also discusses financial pressures, staffing changes, and acknowledged resilience issues and specialism gaps within the planning service.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The committee will be asked to approve and sign the minutes of the previous Planning Committee meeting, which took place on 6 October 2026.