The Rhondda powerhouse may be turned into 68 flats, including 44 in the historic engine house.
The old powerhouse will stay, but minor work will improve its look and safety. Inside, major changes are planned for the 44 apartments. There will be 34 one-bedroom flats and ten flats will have two bedrooms.
Block A will be between the powerhouse and the access road and will have eight two-bedroom flats. Block B will be in the southeast part of the property. It will have 16 apartments, with four having one bedroom and twelve having two bedrooms.
All flats will be “open market” homes. No affordable housing is planned for this project because the developer said affordable housing would make it unworkable.
Landscaped areas are planned throughout the site. These areas help local wildlife and manage drainage. Residents can use some of them as shared outdoor spaces.
The entrance will stay off Llwynypia Road, and sixty parking spaces are planned. The old building has been abandoned and is now in poor condition. The grounds look overgrown, too. The building needs urgent work to keep it standing.
One person objected to the plan, saying the powerhouse is nationally important. They argued that it should benefit the whole community and added that the area has enough flats already. A petition has 562 signatures asking for the local council (RCT) to buy the powerhouse.
The petition wants the council to develop it for the community, but planning officers approve the plan. They call the powerhouse historically important and say the site has been abandoned for over 50 years. It has become dangerous and derelict.
Without repairs, the building may collapse soon. The plan would reuse the site and save the building, improving the look of the area. The new apartment blocks raise some concerns regarding their look and location. However, these buildings enable the project to be completed, with changes being made to make them acceptable. The plan involves dividing up the building’s interior.
A report noted that compromises are needed to save the building. The lack of affordable housing also raises concern, but a developer’s study supports the plan’s financial viability. There has been little interest in past redevelopment, and policies allow exceptions.
The report stated that the current plan might be the best option, balancing the needs of saving the building. Saving the historical building’s importance outweighs housing needs and the project won’t harm neighbors or road safety. The plan will properly manage environmental and drainage concerns.
Overall, the proposal follows local and national policies and approval is recommended by officers. The Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) planning committee will meet this Thursday to discuss both the planning application and building consent. The building consent also needs approval from Cadw.