Residential property in Neath Port Talbot approved to become children’s care home despite local concerns

A residential property in Neath Port Talbot  is set to become a new children’s care home this month, after council bosses approved an application for the change of use at a planning meeting.
The former house located on Uplands Road in Pontardawe will now become a residential care home for up to four children and their carers under the management of Athena Care Group, despite some reservations from local residents.
It would see up to four children, aged between 8 and 18 years old, who have been taken in to care for a variety of reasons,  living in the property on a permanent basis as their main residence.
The large detached residential property was originally built as the doctor’s house serving the steel and tinplate works in Pontardawe, and is described as having seven bedrooms and four reception rooms on a large plot of land with existing gardens to the front, side and rear.
The report read: “The existing property has the layout, facilities and services of, and has the character of a single residential dwelling house. The proposed use would not change this, and the external appearance of the building would not be altered. Day-to-day living facilities, including bathroom, kitchen, dining and sitting rooms would be shared. Each child would have their own bedroom.”
During the meeting members heard how Pontardawe Town Council had expressed concerns over road safety and parking at the site, which they felt was insufficient for this type of residential care home as there would be multiple staff and visitors in an area with limited parking.
It was also noted how the planning team had received 15 objections to the plans from local resident, during the course of the consultation period leading up to the meeting.
Officers however addressed a number of concerns, citing the traffic orders and measures that were in place to keep the narrow joining road clear, as well as highlighting the applications provision for four the parking spaces required in line with planning regulations.
The plans were later approved following a vote by members, who passed the proposals with eight members in favour and one abstention. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​