New Catholic School Plans in Merthyr Tydfil Given Approval by Councillors

Major plans for a new Catholic school in Merthyr Tydfil have been given planning approval by councillors.
The application for the demolition of the current Bishop Hedley school (except the existing sports hall) and the construction of a new building went before Merthyr Tydfil Council’s planning and development committee on Wednesday, October 18 and were approved.
The council is looking to create a new all-through 3 to 16 school called Blessed Carlo Acutis to replace the existing St Aloysius RC Primary School, the Federation of St Illtyd’s RC, St Mary’s RC Primary School and Bishop Hedley School.
The proposed school will accommodate a primary school with 525 places, a nursery with  100 full-time equivalent places and a secondary school with 600 places.
The proposals also include sports facilities with the extension of the existing sports hall and new sports pitches and associated landscaping, access and engineering works with new vehicle access and parking and drop-off areas, a temporary staff car park, a construction compound, classrooms during construction and improvements to pedestrian access, as well as highway improvements to Galon Uchaf Road and Gwaunfarren Road.
There was one objection to the application which said the temporary compound would include a new access/entrance on to Galon Uchaf
Road, which is fast and busy road and has no traffic calming measures and that the additional traffic raises highway safety concerns.
It also raised ground stability and water run-off concerns about Buttercup Field, which could destabilise the ground and affect properties in Billingham Cresent.
But the report said site investigations do not highlight any significant stability concerns that may otherwise prevent the use of the temporary car park and  it is not anticipated that the proposed temporary car park would give rise to significant stability concerns that may effect the neighbouring properties.
It also said appropriate drainage systems would need to be implemented to ensure any water run-off from the temporary car park is appropriately managed and the final drainage scheme would be agreed as part of a separate sustainable drainage application.
Other concerns included the potential impact on the trees and ecology within and surrounding Buttercup Field, the potential increase in noise and air pollution as a result of the temporary car park, and that the removal of knotweed could result in the loss of vegetation which helps to provide some security to the rear of adjacent properties.
The report also acknowledged that the development would have some impact on the grassland habitat area to the west of the school site to accommodate the temporary car park but this would be reinstated and improved after the removal of the car park and that the existing woodland/vegetation along the periphery of the grassland area would be retained.
The report also said air pollution and noise can be minimised through a construction management plan to minimise dust and construction hours.
It said the impact from the temporary car park would also be limited to
the construction phase and would be replaced by the new car park in the main school grounds.
It added that Japanese knotweed has been identified within the site, particularly in close proximity of the temporary car park and it is proposed for these areas to be treated to ensure the invasive species is eradicated.
Planning officers recommend approval
In recommending approval, council planning officers said: “The principle of the development is acceptable and the proposal would make provision for a new and improved educational facility to serve the wider community.
“The development has been carefully designed to integrate well with the
surrounding area and appropriately addresses the constraints of the site.
“The impact on the highway network has been taken into consideration with appropriate parking provision to support the development, whilst encouraging more sustainable forms of travel.
“The landscaping scheme has been designed to help define different usable spaces around the school, whilst providing ecological enhancements.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​