THE SITE of a former Merthyr Tydfil school is set to be turned into housing.
An application for 10 detached houses on the site of the former Ysgol Santes Tudful School on Queens Road in Twynyrodyn was approved by the council’s planning, regulatory and licensing committee on Wednesday, May 24.
Outline planning permission was previously granted for the residential development of the former Ysgol Santes Tudful School site with issues such as the layout, scale, appearance, access and landscaping being reserved for future consideration.
This application was for the approval of the ‘reserved matters’ for a residential scheme comprising 10, four-bedroom, detached houses.
The submitted site layout plan indicates they will be located on the upper plateau.
A series of double garages will be provided alongside 14 parking spaces to serve the development and enclosed bin store areas will be provided near the existing entrances into the site.
The report said that the development will use and improve the two existing accesses into the site from Queens Road.
The planning report said that the application relates to an irregular shaped area of land measuring approximately 0.78 of a hectares, which adjoins the Thomastown Conservation Area.
The site was previously occupied by the former Ysgol Santes Tudful School, which was demolished some years ago.
The plans also include keeping healthy mature trees, planting of new trees, hedgerows and grassed areas.
One letter of objection to the application was received from Cyfarthfa High School raising concern that the development would have an impact on parking along Queens Road particularly during the school drop off and pick up times.
They also raised concern that the development would reduce parking availability in the area for staff and that there would be complaints from the future residents in respect of noise, litter and balls going over the adjoining boundary.
But planning officers recommended it for approval saying that the general layout, scale and appearance of the development is acceptable and the proposed access arrangements to serve the development is deemed to be acceptable and would not give rise to highway safety concerns.
And they said that the proposed landscaping scheme is deemed to be acceptable and would enhance the quality of the development and the overall character and appearance of the Thomastown Conservation Area.
Committee member Councillor Clive Jones said there had been a few false dawns with this site in the past and he said he thinks this is the right number of houses on this site and he said he had no issues with it receiving approval adding that it would improve the whole area.
Fellow committee member Councillor John Thomas said this has been batted back and forth for a number of years and that it is an unsightly area so he welcomes the development with open arms.
