The Culture, Connection and Place Scrutiny Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss the future of the proposed Neath Integrated Transport Hub, and to select items for future scrutiny. The meeting will be held in a multi-location format, at the Presentation Room, Port Talbot and via Microsoft Teams.

Neath Integrated Transport Hub

The committee will be considering the future of the proposed Neath Integrated Transport Hub (NITH). The committee has selected this item for pre-decision scrutiny ahead of it going to the cabinet on 29 October 2025.

The purpose of the cabinet report is to inform members of the current position of the proposals for the transport hub following completion of a public consultation. The report sets out options for consideration to determine if the scheme progresses any further, and if it does, how the matters raised through the consultation and recent transport policy and funding changes are addressed. The full public consultation report is included as an appendix to the report.

The report recommends that officers reassess the scope and design of the scheme with the primary aim of addressing the concerns and issues raised during the consultation, further exploring the opportunities for collaboration with key partners and re-developing the scheme in the context of a wider Neath town centre masterplan.

The report notes that Amey Consulting was commissioned in 2022/23 to complete the detailed design of the preferred option for the hub, and have provided a review of the WelTAG appraisals previously undertaken by WSP in 2020/21.

The report also notes that at the end of FY2024-25, £480,000 of funding was returned to the Welsh Government Local Transport Fund (LTF), because the scheme had not developed to the required stage or undergone public consultation. For FY 2025-26, a bid of £940,000 was made to the LTF, but only £440,000 was awarded. There is a current risk that approximately 75% of this will be returned to Welsh Government at the end of this financial year, depending on the decision taken as to how this scheme progresses.

To deliver the scheme as it has currently been developed, the council would need to acquire (in part or in whole) the freehold and leasehold title in respect of the various areas of land and properties from eight separate owners. In addition, there is a narrow strip of land which is unregistered and currently of unknown ownership. The council is in advanced negotiations with Network Rail and Transport for Wales over acquisition of part of Network Rail's land, the majority of which incorporates the Station Square in front of the existing railway station.

The council has also been in negotiations with the Royal Mail to acquire their delivery office. Negotiations have been protracted due to the fact that Royal Mail need to secure a new premises for a replacement delivery office in the locality. It was hoped that a suitable premises had been found in Neath Abbey, however this is no longer proceeding and Royal Mail are actively seeking alternative premises.

The report notes that stakeholder engagement has played an important role in the development of the proposed interchange and continues to shape the design of the project. Public engagement was carried out in May and June 2025 through an online consultation and series of three in-person consultation events, complemented by a feedback questionnaire which provided an opportunity for residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to share their views on the proposals.

The response was overwhelmingly negative with very little public support for the scheme in its current form.

Key findings from the public consultation included:

• Perceived lack of need for the scheme
• Concerns about the use of public funds
• Concerns about the impact on local businesses
• A desire to upgrade existing bus services and station facilities
• Concerns about the location of interchange
• Concerns about traffic and congestion
• Concerns about short-term parking
• Concerns about safety and anti-social behaviour

The report presents three alternative options for consideration:

1. Proceed with the current scheme as presented to the public, allowing for minor, non-material design adjustments, and commit to submitting a full planning application.
2. Cease all development of the scheme and take no further action.
3. Reassess the scope and design of the scheme with the primary aim of addressing the concerns and issues raised during the consultation, further exploring the opportunities for collaboration with key partners and re-developing the scheme in the context of a wider Neath town centre masterplan.

The report includes a first stage impact assessment¹ which has indicated that a more in-depth assessment is not required.

Selection of Items for Future Scrutiny

The committee will be considering items from the Scrutiny Forward Work Programme for selection for future scrutiny. The Culture Connection and Place Scrutiny Committee FWP 2025-26 Version 8 lists a number of potential agenda items for future meetings. These include:

• LUF Update
• Business Plans
• Performance Monitoring
• Midterm review of South-West Wales Regional Economic Delivery Plan
• Bus Franchising Update and Bus Network
• Pontardawe Swimming Pool (Monitoring Report)
• Heads of Service Business Plans Performance Monitoring 2025/2026 – Quarter 1 (Performance Monitoring)
• Regeneration and Economic Development Strategy
• Decarbonisation Strategy
• Libraries Annual Report
• Qtr. 2 Monitoring (July to September 2025/2026) (Performance Monitoring)
• Neath Port Talbot Active Travel Network Maps – update on progress of the renewal of the Maps (Following Public Consultation)
• Active Travel Delivery Plan (Monitoring)

The committee will also be considering a site visit to Pontardawe Arts Centre, and workshops relating to Margam Castle, Celtic Leisure, Theatre Branding Consultation, and the Active Travel Network Map.