Developments around Aberdare Town are there a lack of foresight in planning infrastructure around these developments?

The planned developments in Abernant, which will add a combined total of 450 dwellings, are set to significantly strain an already overburdened local infrastructure, particularly around the Ynys Roundabout. This area is notorious for congestion, especially during peak hours. The bypasses to the north and south of Aberdare experience frequent queuing, and this additional housing is likely to exacerbate the situation. As traffic issues have already spilled over into neighbouring areas, like the B4275 through Aberaman, the 120 new houses at the former Blaengwawr Comprehensive School site only compound the problem without corresponding improvements to the road network.

The local council, Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT), has proposed cutting back on school transport, a decision that will likely lead to increased car journeys, further congesting Aberdare’s already gridlocked roads. Instead of forward-thinking solutions, such as improving infrastructure, the council has focused on smaller projects like a recently built footbridge over the River Cynon. While this might improve pedestrian flow, it does little to alleviate the broader traffic concerns, especially in light of the extensive housing developments surrounding Aberdare. In a region like Cynon Valley, this kind of half-hearted planning reflects a pattern, as seen during the incomplete town refurbishment in 2012.

In terms of housing, W D Homes has announced that 12 plots from their latest development have received expressions of interest, with full reservations already being taken. However, while 300 homes will be constructed on the old Aberdare Hospital site, only 30 of these will be classified as “affordable housing.” Similarly, just a few meters away at Moss Place, another 150 homes are being developed, yet only 10 of these are deemed affordable. The term “affordable” is somewhat misleading, as housing priced between £160,000 and £165,000 is still out of reach for many local residents.

A case in point is Fothergill Park in Abernant (CF44 0PY), where house prices range from £330,000 to £525,000, making it clear that “affordable housing” has little meaning in this context. With the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal awarding a sum of £2,040,000 for Fothergill Park’s development and £1,514,000 for Moss Place, there are pressing questions around why public funds are being used to subsidize projects that largely cater to higher-income buyers, with only token provisions for affordable housing.

Moreover, the lack of foresight in planning infrastructure around these developments is glaring. Despite such substantial investments, little attention has been given to the region’s growing traffic and congestion problems, making it clear that highways consultants and urban planners need to re-evaluate their approach if they are to meet the needs of both current and future residents.

Below from RCTC

(I) The Cardiff Capital Region provided funding for Fothergill Park with just 30 designated as affordable dwellings out of nearly 300 homes at the former Aberdare General Hospital site. How much funding was provided to WDL Homes?

The following contributions have been made by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council to the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal to date: £7,141,241 Total.

The Cardiff Capital Region has informed me that Cynon Valley funding allocations from the Cardiff Capital Region so far were for just 2 projects amounting to £3.5 Million in the Housing Viability Gap Fund programme, they didn’t name the projects as I requested. It appears such a small reward for the amount invested by council taxpayers as our council tax increases year on year and basic services are being cut for vanity projects.

The CCR Housing Viability Gap Fund supported two projects in the Cynon Valley. The purpose of this fund was to help remediate ground condition problems that meant that housing sites that were either allocated in the LDP or were “within settlement limits” and had previously been granted planning permission but could not be developed due to there being viability issues, were eligible to receive help.

None of the sites considered (within the CCR region) would receive a subsidy in respect of the housing itself. Agreements (contracts) only related to ground condition issues (such as past mining activities) and appropriate surveys and financial information had to be provided to demonstrate that this money would be needed for its intended purposes. The information provided was independently verified.

The two sites in the Cynon Valley are as follows:

Development Site Name: Fothergill Park

Address: Land at Former Aberdare Hospital, Abernant

Maximum Sum Awarded: £2,040,000

Development Site Name: Moss Place, Abernant

Address: Land at Moss Place, Abernant

Maximum Sum Awarded: £1,514,000

Only Fothergill Park has commenced. All developments that were eligible for funding needed to demonstrate that they complied with policies in the Local Development Plan. On Fothergill Park there was an LDP policy requirement for 10% affordable housing to be provided which explains the need for 30 homes of the 300 granted.

Moss Place will also be required to provide 10% but no application for Planning application has yet been made.

Please note that the administration (and responsibility) for any financial contributions to the developers of these sites sit SOLELY with CCR and not with RCT (who only act as the LPA in respect of these developments).