The Planning Committee of Swansea Council met on Tuesday 3 December 2024 and approved three planning applications. These included a large affordable housing development in Bonymaen, a waste recycling transfer station in Pontarddulais, and a trial backfilling exercise at the Vivian Engine House in Landore.

Brooksby Road Residential Development, Bonymaen

The committee approved a significant development of 156 new, 100% affordable homes on four sites north and south of Brooksby Road in Bonymaen. The project, part of the Council's More Homes initiative, aims to deliver energy-efficient dwellings. The development will include a mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom homes, with bungalows also incorporated. A key feature will be a three-metre wide active travel route connecting the sites and linking to Kilvey Hill. Concerns raised by objectors regarding drainage, traffic, pollution, residential amenity, and impacts on local services were addressed in the report and by councillors during the meeting. Councillor Mandy Evans, representing Bonymaen ward, spoke in support, highlighting the positive impact on the community and the much-needed affordable housing. The application was recommended for approval, subject to numerous conditions, and was unanimously approved by the committee.

Waste Recycling Transfer Station, Pontarddulais

A full planning permission was granted for a waste recycling transfer station and associated infrastructure at Gwyn Yard, St Teilo Street, Pontarddulais. The facility will handle up to 1,500 tonnes of waste, focusing on recycling materials such as glass, plastic, wood, and metals. Hazardous waste will not be accepted. The site, already in employment use as a scrap yard and skip hire business, will see upgrades to its infrastructure, including new storage bays and a weighbridge. Conditions were imposed to control operational hours, ensure appropriate boundary treatments, and manage environmental impacts, including the construction of an earth bund and close-boarded timber fencing. Concerns raised by Pontarddulais Town Council regarding noise, pollution, traffic, flood risk, and visual impact were considered. The application was recommended for approval, subject to conditions, and was unanimously approved by the committee.

Trial Backfilling Exercise at Vivian Engine House, Landore

Listed Building Consent was approved for a trial backfilling exercise at the Vivian Engine House in Landore. This work is part of the wider Lower Swansea Valley project to restore the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks. Archaeological evaluations on the site revealed nationally significant features, including remains of rolling mill bases, annealing furnaces, and flues. To protect these delicate remains and to inform the foundation design for a new link building between the Vivian and Musgrave Engine Houses, a trial backfill is necessary. The proposal involves lining a 10-metre long, 2-metre wide, and 1.5-metre deep trench with a permeable membrane before backfilling with compacted stone. The process will be closely monitored by archaeologists, with all findings to be recorded and deposited in the public archive. The application was recommended for approval, subject to a condition requiring adherence to the submitted archaeological Written Scheme of Investigation, and was unanimously approved by the committee.