School site plan anger
A GROUP of residents are opposing plans to build apartments at the old Aberdare Girls’ School. Residents claim a covenant on the site, which says the 1913 building can only be used for educational purposes, is still relevant.
A GROUP of Cynon Valley residents are opposing plans to build apartments at the old Aberdare Girls’ School.
And they disagree with the new owners who believe they will get the green light for the project.
Residents who live near the Plasdraw building say a historic covenant on the site – which states the 1913 building can only be used for educational purposes – is still relevant.
The school was initially sold for £415,000 at auction in July 2014, but it is understood that sale fell through and the building was sold to the next highest bidder.
During May, we revealed plans by East Midlands-based Swallow Hill Homes, a company which part-owns the site’s new owners Aberdare School Developments.
They want to preserve the old school while converting it into 26 one- or two-bedroom apartments for people aged 50 or over.
The separate singlestorey buildings and gym at the back of the site will make way for 16 bungalows and two houses, with no age restriction.
Those opposed to the plans include residents of Glanynis Cottages, Plasdraw Court, Plasdraw Road, and Plasdraw Place.
They say the development will cause a loss of amenity to their properties, which is what the covenant exists to prevent.
Denzil Boaler, of Plasdraw Place, said: “There is a restrictive covenant that runs with the land, and they have to abide by that agreement, whether it’s in 10 years, 100 years or hundreds of years to come. It must be used as a school and playground only.
“Several of us have got together, six families and property owners and others in the background, and we spent our own money investigating the validity of the covenant. The upshot of that was that, yes, it is still relevant.
“If there was no covenant on the site, the owners would have had to pay a lot more for the building than they did.
“Their plans are going to impact considerably upon the amenity of the surrounding land and in the meantime we will also have to put up with 12 months of construction and more lights in the area, which lies at the bottom of our gardens.
“If they wanted to build a school and a playground, we couldn’t – and wouldn’t – try to stop them.”
When asked about the covenant and the plans to develop the site, Swallow Hill Homes founder Rob Bailey said: “The covenant protects the owners of neighbouring properties – it would only give them a benefit if there was a cost to them. For example, if we decided to build a prison there, it would clearly devalue their homes and they would have a claim.
“But we want to significantly improve the area. The council has just built a new £35m school opposite – we are confident there is no educational requirement for the building now the new school has been built.”
If planning permission is obtained, work could begin on the bungalows by September, with the first occupants moving in by early 2017. The first occupants of the apartments would be in 2019.