New flats plan sparks protest
Neighbours say 40 new homes in village will lead to a string of problems:
FORTY new extra care apartments are set to be built near Aberdare despite significant opposition from local residents over the size, congestion and loss of privacy they will cause.
The proposals, which are set to be pushed through by Rhondda Cynon Taf council’s planning and development committee next week, are for Club Street in Aberaman.
The local authority said there is “high demand” for the homes, which will house over-50s with decreased mobility or other similar conditions on the site of the former Maesyffynnon Care Home.
There is huge opposition to the plans, with two letters of objection submitted – one on behalf of more than 40 local homes.
But in the report, recommended for approval by planners on January 4, it said: “The proposed development offers the opportunity to introduce a form of accommodation for which there is an identified high demand across the county borough given the ageing population.
“The proposal would be developed on a brownfield site, within the defined settlement limits of Aberaman.
“The extra care facility is considered acceptable in term of the requirements of planning policy and all relating material planning considerations and as such a positive recommendation is made.”
The plans were submitted by Linc Cymru, and come after permission was granted to demolish the former Maesyffynnon Care Home last year, on the site that neighbours Blaengwawr Primary School.
They seek to develop a T-shaped, three-storey building, with the front measuring over 40m wide.
It will consist of 36 onebedroom apartments, with four two bedroom units, as well as a number of communal facilities like a dining room/cafe, hair salon, therapy room, lounge, laundry and winter garden room.
It will have a 24-space car park with drop-off zone, refuse store and cycle parking area, as well as a garden area with boules court and an “intergenerational garden” which will be used with pupils from the nearby school.
The report says the new building would be “significantly larger” than the previous Maesyffynnon building, meaning it will be “more visible”, but that “the impact of its scale and height would not have so great an impact as to be considered detrimental to the character and appearance of the area”.
The reasons for opposition to the plans included that the height of the building is not in keeping with the area, that there will be a loss of light – particularly on Club Street, and that nearby homes will be directly overlooked by the apartments.
Other concerns include noise and disruption from the number of residents at the facility, as well as traffic issues and the area is already congested – particularly the “bottle-neck” Club Street-Cardiff Road junction.
In response to congestion concerns, the report says the development would not have “detrimental impact” and that the junction was not identified as “problematic”.
It also said the development required a maximum of 27, and that the shortfall of three spaces could be made up by converting the cycle storage and mobility buggy storage.
In its concluding remarks, the report says: “It is considered that subject to conditions, the development proposed would not have a significantly detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the area, the residential amenity of those living closest to the site, highway safety or ecological value of the area.
“The application is therefore considered compliant with the requirements of the policies of the Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Development Plan and recommended for approval subject to conditions.”
Those conditions include drainage arrangements and that only those aged 50 and over will live there.