College housing scheme to start later this year
WORK on a £20 millionplus residential scheme at a former university campus overlooking Swansea is due to get under way this autumn.
Social housing provider Pobl Group has planning permission to build 84 houses at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) Townhill campus.
In addition, the Edwardian college building dating back to 1912 will be extended and converted into 62 flats. Other buildings will be demolished.
Most of the 84 houses will be on the Pantycelyn Road side of the college building; the remainder on the southern side will face on to
sloping parkland.
Pobl Group also has outline consent for a further 14 flats and a commercial unit, and said it would submit a full application later this year.
Uplands councillor Peter May said a couple of residents had asked him recently when work would start.
“I’m glad a date has been set and that work will progress,” he said.
“It’s a project that was welcomed by neighbouring residents with all the planning conditions that were put in.”
The wooded parkland running down towards ‘‘
Uplands, which includes old tennis courts, will not be developed, although a path leading up from Penlan Crescent will be reinstated.
As part of the planning permission, Pobl Group will make a £140,000 highways, cycling and walking contribution and provide 20% affordable housing.
After demolition work, it’s likely that construction will begin first on the houses on the Pantycelyn Road side of the college building.
An old caretaker’s lodge, which has been vandalised in recent
years, is among the buildings to be knocked down.
UWTSD’S staff and students relocated from Townhill to their new campus in SA1 for the start of the 2018-19 academic year.
Speaking in 2018, a Pobl Group spokesman said it wanted the scheme to make the most of the views over Swansea Bay.
He added: “We also want to conserve and maintain a large proportion of mature parkland and open space to benefit both the new residents and adjacent community.”
I’m glad a date has been set and that work will progress. It’s a project that was welcomed by neighbouring residents with all the planning conditions that were put in - Uplands councillor Peter May