Decision due on plans for 30 flats at former Merthyr Tydfil hospital site

A decision is due on plans to build 30 flats on the site of Merthyr Tydfil’s former general hospital.
The development, if approved, would involve the demolition of the rear section of the building, renovation of the retained front portion and construction of a three storey extension to the rear.
The proposal is to bring the building into residential use comprising of 30 flats with five two-bed flats and 25 one-bed flats.
The front of the building would be renovated and would house six flats and the  remaining flats would be in the proposed rear extension. The rear extension would have an overall rectangular shape with all flats being outward facing.
To the front of the building, five car parking spaces would be provided adjacent to where vehicles enter the site with a pedestrian footpath and grassed garden area.
The planning report said that the proposed rear extension would have a smaller footprint than the existing building allowing for additional garden space to be created and to allow additional levels of separation from the adjacent residential properties.
It said the site was relatively level but sloped steeply to the north
resulting in a number of the adjacent properties being situated at a higher level and the site area is around 0.2 hectares.
As the application involves demolition and the site is within the conservation area, an  application seeking conservation area consent has been submitted and is being considered.
At the planning committee meeting held in January, it was decided to defer the application so a site visit could take place.
Since then, four more responses have been received from members of the public raising concerns about parking and the general impact of the development.
There were seven responses to the initial public consultation raising objections to the proposed development.
In terms of design and impact on the conservation area, officers said that the proposal was considered to be acceptable for the site and context.
They said the number of residential units to be provided exceeded the allocation within the Local Development Plan but explained that the additional units were required in order to make the scheme viable and that the former planning consents were not implemented with viability being cited as a major contributing factor.
In relation to car parking, officers said that there was not the opportunity for more car parking space to be provided within the site and that the trees on site were afforded an element of protection due to their location in the conservation area.
Planning officers said in their report that it would “provide a viable future for a land mark building within the town and provide much needed housing in a sustainable location on brownfield/previously developed land.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​