Go-ahead to sell land for store
PLANS to regenerate Porthcawl waterfront have moved a step closer after councillors approved plans to market land at Salt Lake to food store developers.
During a meeting held on Tuesday, Bridgend council’s cabinet allowed officers to start advertising land at Salt Lake car park, pictured, to potential developers as part of its plan to build a supermarket there.
Cabinet member for education and regeneration, Cllr Charles Smith said the decision marked “an exciting milestone” in the regeneration of Porthcawl.
Head of operations for community services Zak Shell said: “It’s been a long time in the making. Officers are now able to move this project on, which is good to see.”
The council aims to finish marketing the two-acre site at Salt Lake, known locally as the Green, to food store developers by the end of this year. It hopes the cabinet will be able to make a decision on which store will be developed early next year.
Work on the plans began after the end of a decades-long deadlock between leaseholders – two local families – and landowners, the council. In 2017, Bridgend council agreed to pay £3.33m for Salt Lake Car Park.
Funds obtained by the food store development will be reinvested into infrastructure improvements and further stages of the town’s regeneration plans, including improvements to John Street car park. Later phases include building houses next to the new store, improving Hillsboro car park, a leisure scheme near the marina, a hotel and additional housing on the seafront.
To reduce the risk of flooding to the new housing site, a series of coastal protection improvements will also be carried out.
Land at Coney Beach and Sandy Bay will also be developed as part of the town’s regeneration including the extension of Griffin Park, a new roundabout and access road, new residential and commercial properties, and a new school.
Cllr Smith said: “Since the council took action to remove a development deadlock on Salt Lake, momentum has been continuing to gather and we are now at the stage where we can actively start looking for a high-quality developer who can provide the food store that will act as a vital first step towards delivering sustainable, long-lasting regeneration.”