Decision due on plans for former Rhondda care home

Plans to redevelop a former care home in the Rhondda into accommodation for people with learning disabilites are going before the council’s planning committee. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

An application from Rhondda Cynon Taf Council for the redevelopment of the Bronllwyn care home on Colwyn Road in Gelli is due to be considered by the planning committee on Thursday, April 20. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To accommodate the proposed development the application would see the demolition of the existing buildings at the site as well as landscaping, sustainable drainage, access, parking and associated works carried out. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The development would be spread over three floors made up of 13 en suite bedrooms and one respite bedroom. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A large courtyard and garden would be included to the west of the building which the report said would provide residents and staff an area of outside amenity space. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The development would use the existing access for vehicles from Colwyn Road and Smith Street with the main parking located to the north of the building and an additional parking area made up of two spaces located to the east. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The report said that the site is located on Colwyn Road towards the southern part of Gelli and measures approximately 0.297 hectares. The former care home for the elderly was first built in 1972 and includes three separate linked blocks. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The report added that tenants at the care home left on a phased basis over recent months before the submission of the application. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There was one letter of objection which raised concerns over the potential inconvenience to existing residents through disruption during construction. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They said parking is already an issue and the new care home would cause friction between residents and non-resident vehicle owners, adding that Llanfair Hill is a bus route which needs to be kept clear. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They claimed the proximity to the primary school which reportedly already creates pandemonium will result in safety issues for children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

But planning officers have recommended it for approval saying: “The site offers an opportunity for a tailored scheme to meet local needs and will aid in addressing the known care home shortfall in the County Borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The proposal would be developed on a brownfield site, within the defined settlement limits of Gelli and is considered acceptable in term of the requirements of planning policy and all relating material planning considerations.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They later added that “the development proposed would not have a significantly detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the area, the residential amenity of those living closest to the site, highway safety or ecological value of the area.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​