The detailed plans for a new primary school as part of the Llanilid housing development have been approved, following consideration at a recent meeting of the Planning and Development Committee. These are further to the existing outline planning permission previously granted.
The reserved matters application was granted by the Committee on Thursday, November 23, in line with officer recommendations. The application encompasses a new 540-pupil primary school and associated infrastructure (including access and landscaping). Further details about the new school are included at the bottom of this update.
The planning officer’s report to Committee outlined the reasons the application was recommended for approval. It noted that the site is included in the Local Development Plan and the principle of developing it for residential purposes, together with a school and a village centre, is long-established having been initially agreed in 2016. There would be no undue impact upon the area’s character or appearance, while acceptable ecology mitigation and enhancement measures are also secured as part of the development.
The report added that the school would bring a state-of-the-art school to the area, with the intention to make the facility available for community use. The additional capacity for primary school places will relieve pressure on existing schools that serve Bryncae and Llanharan, while also responding to the large Llanilid housing development that will bring significant additional demand.
Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Youth Participation and the Welsh Language, said: “I’m pleased that the Planning and Development Committee has approved the reserved matters details for a new primary school to serve the Llanilid site, which will be desperately needed as the large residential development progresses. Existing schools in the area are already nearing full capacity and, as more houses are built, extra primary school capacity will be much-needed to continue to provide places for all children living in the local catchment area.
“It is intended that the new school will be a state-of-the-art development with 21st Century education facilities. The building will also establish itself as a hub for the community, with internal and external spaces being made available in the evenings and at weekends. The school will contain a 60-place nursery and will expand the dual language education provision available to local families.
“The Council will continue to work closely with Persimmon Homes to develop and deliver the new school to the very high standards of our existing 21st Century school developments across the County Borough – including the aim to achieve Net Zero carbon in operation. We will keep residents up to date with key landmarks of the project in the weeks and months ahead, as we develop a modern school at Llanilid to serve the expanding community.”
The new school will be built by Persimmon Homes with the capital costs met through its Community Infrastructure Levy responsibilities relating to the housing development. There will therefore be no capital cost to the Council.
The two-storey, L-shaped building will have a classroom wing and a hall block, and will be on the north-east side of the site – with a yard/play area to the south and a car park to the west. The building will include 10 ground floor classrooms (two for nursery, two for reception and six for infant classes). The first floor will have eight junior classrooms, a learning resource area and staff room. Supporting facilities will be located across each floor.
Externally, there will be a yard area, a 3G sports pitch, and various informal hard and soft landscaped areas. Vehicle access will be provided off a junction to the north-western corner of the site, leading to a staff car park with capacity for 39 vehicles. A pick-up/drop-off area and three coach laybys will be located nearby, while pedestrians will use a dedicated access to the west of the site.
Thursday’s officer report also outlined Persimmon Homes’ current progress on delivering the wider residential development, anticipated to be delivered in 10 phases (eight residential, a mixed/use village centre and the primary school). Phase 1 (216 homes) was approved in 2019 and nears completion. Phase 2 (421 homes) along with Phases 3 and 4 (494 homes), were approved in 2021, and site construction work is underway for these three phases of work.
