Planning Permission For Former Glan Afan School Site Approved

Neath Port Talbot Council has approved a planning application submitted by Coastal Housing Group to redevelop the former Glan Afan Comprehensive School on Station Road in Port Talbot town centre. Councillors approved the proposals to convert the structure to accommodate a commercial unit with a ground floor extension and twelve residential apartments, whilst maintaining the red brick façade of the Victorian building. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Other buildings from the rear of the school site will be demolished to allow the construction of apartments, detached and semi-detached houses and a further commercial unit, alongside associated access, car parking and landscaping works. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Glan Afan Comprehensive closed its doors for the final time in July 2016 with pupils transferring to the brand new Ysgol Bae Baglan for the new academic year in September. The move is part of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Strategic Schools Improvement Programme (SSIP). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The redevelopment of Glan Afan School is one of a number of projects for Port Talbot’s three-year housing-led regeneration programme which will see over £35m invested in and around the town centre, part funded by the Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places (VVP) programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Leader, Ali Thomas OBE said: “The redevelopment of the former Glan Afan Comprehensive school site will provide much needed housing in Port Talbot town centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Vibrant and Viable Places programme aims to create communities where people can live, work and socialise. This redevelopment, paired with other VVP projects such as the Port Talbot Integrated Transport Hub, will help to enhance the vitality of the town centre.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gareth Davies, Director of Development at Coastal Housing Group said: “The planning approval from the Council yesterday is a positive step towards a hugely exciting project for Coastal and Port Talbot. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Additional flats and housing will provide great benefits for local people looking to get onto the property ladder, with commercial space also creating job opportunities and encouraging businesses to the area. We’re looking forward to getting started.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​