Plans Submitted For Redevelopment Of Glan Afan School Site

A planning application to redevelop the Glanafan Comprehensive School site has been submitted to Neath Port Talbot Council by Coastal Housing Group. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If approved by Councillors, the proposals will see the retention of the historic building which fronts onto Station Road, with the structure being converted to accommodate four commercial units with a ground floor front extension and six residential flats. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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

Glan Afan closed its doors for the final time in July with pupils transferring to the brand new Bae Baglan for the new academic year in September. The site is in a key location in the pedestrianised area of the town centre, and in close proximity to the recently redeveloped Port Talbot Parkway Station ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The planned school redevelopment is one of eleven proposed projects for Port Talbot as part of a three-year housing led regeneration programme which will see over £30m invested in and around the town centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Neath Port Talbot Council secured funding from the Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places (VVP) programme to undertake a number of Regeneration projects in the town centre, working alongside key partners. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Alongside VVP funding, it is anticipated that, if approved, the project will also benefit from significant support through the Welsh Government’s Social Housing Grant programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gareth Nutt, Director of Environment said: “The redevelopment of the former Glanafan Comprehensive school site would help meet local demand for affordable housing. It would add to the vitality and viability of the town centre, helping to create a community where people can live and work. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Together with the redeveloped Port Talbot Parkway Station and recently completed environmental improvement works along Station Road, if approved this development would help to provide an attractive gateway to the town centre.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A Coastal Housing Group spokesperson said: “Coastal Housing Group has submitted a planning application to redevelop the Glan Afan Comprehensive School site but as we are in the very early stages of the application process, we are unable to provide further comment at this time. As ever, Coastal are continually looking for regeneration opportunities across South Wales to breathe a new lease of life into towns and cities to benefit local communities, and Port Talbot remains an area which we are dedicated to.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​