Plan to build homes and offices on factory site

PLANS have been revealed for a 160-home mixed-use development on a former factory site near Merthyr Tydfil.

The local community is being invited to review and comment on an outline masterplan for the development on the former Ardagh factory site at Dragon Parc, Abercanaid.

Following its closure in 2012, the Ardagh aerosol factory was purchased by Huntley Wood Investments Ltd. The main factory building was demolished in 2015 and the site now mostly comprises hardstanding, scattered scrubland and a dilapidated office building.

The proposals for a sustainable, mixed-use development include:

Up to 160 new homes – a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments (10%), two-bedroom homes (20%) and three- and fourbedroom homes (70%).

Affordable housing – up to 10% of the new homes will be affordable housing.

Employment space – up to a hectare of employment land for offices, research and development and light industrial uses.

Public open space – including a sports pitch and local equipped play area (LEAP).

Landscaping – designed to increase flood protection and sustainable drainage, including an attenuation pond and opening up the culverts to form swales.

Local residents have been invited to discuss the proposals with the project team by visiting a public exhibition from 3-8pm on Thursday, March 9 at Abercanaid Community School, The Park, Merthyr Tydfil.

Alternatively, all the information for the statutory consultation is available on the project webpage www.grasshopperconsult. co.uk/dragonparc