Work on new primary due to start next year

WORK on a brand new 540-place primary school in Llanilid is set to start next year, it has been confirmed.

A state-of-the-art school is to be built at the former Llanilid Opencast Site as part of a huge 1,850-house development by Persimmon Homes.

The plans include a 60-place nursery.

Up to 5,000 houses could eventually be built on the site.

Persimmon has resubmitted plans for the school and local residents are now able to comment on the proposals.

Planning permission is anticipated at the start of 2022, with clearance work scheduled for the summer.

The school is planned to open in 2024, Persimmon said.

The full cost of the school is being met by Persimmon Homes as part of the housebuilder’s Community Infrastructure Levy obligations.

Andy Edwards, managing director at Persimmon Homes West Wales, said: “We’re delighted to bringing this new school to the area as part of our work in Llanilid.

“This is a significant development so it is important that the correct infrastructure is put in place, which includes modern and appropriate education facilities. Working closely with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, that is exactly what we will deliver.

“This development as a whole will completely regenerate the area, giving people a place to live, work and socialise.

“I’m really looking forward to watching the site progress in the years to come.”

Councillor Joy Rosser, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Inclusion Services, said: “The Council is working closely with Persimmon to deliver the school, which will be built with the very high standards of our 21st Century Schools developments. “

A district centre is also being constructed as part of the development, which could include facilities such as a pub and coffee shops.

Persimmon started work on the development off junction 35 of the M4 in mid-2019.

Demand in the new properties has been sky-high and the first occupants are already well settled.

The site was formerly a huge opencast mine and has long been designated by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council (RCT) as a key strategic development site. Mining ceased in the 1990s.

The current phase of development at the Llanilid site is known as Milton Meadow. There are two, three and four-bedroom homes available, with prices starting at £184,995.