The Cabinet of Bridgend County Borough Council has agreed to move forward with plans to appropriate land in Sandy Bay and Griffin Park needed for the delivery of future regeneration within Porthcawl.
The move will enable almost 20 hectares of land to be used for planning purposes as part of the regeneration of the town’s waterfront area, and will be in accordance with both the Local Development Plan and the recently approved Placemaking Strategy.
Under the council’s plans the site, which includes the amusement park, will become available for mixed-use development featuring all-new retail, commercial, recreational, housing and leisure opportunities.
To support the mixed-use development, a new vehicular route will be constructed and the site will also feature an all-new school or expanded educational facilities.
Griffin Park will double in size, access to the beach will be improved and enhanced, and facilities for new businesses and visitors will be introduced alongside approximately 900 much-needed new homes.
The site will also feature new or significantly improved open space for residents and visitors to enjoy, which will be in addition to the 200 metre long seaside park already planned as part of the nearby Salt Lake development.
With the council committing towards the provision of new all-weather modern tennis facilities, public consultation is to be carried out on how residents will want their new open space to look, and what sort of new facilities they would like it to feature.
Councillor Neelo Farr, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “This move is an important step forward in unlocking the potential of the waterfront area, and forms an essential part of our ongoing overall regeneration plans for Porthcawl.
“Developing well-defined, safe and welcoming public open space remains as equally important to these plans as do our aims for delivering the new Porthcawl Metro Station or an all-new modern multi-storey car park at Hillsboro Place.
“In line with our Placemaking Strategy, we want local organisations, businesses and communities to work with us in close partnership in order to deliver sustainable regeneration and development while also respecting and valuing the area’s distinctive qualities and identity.
“Local people will have an opportunity to help determine how this new open space is delivered and what facilities may be featured there, and we will be inviting your views and input as soon as the consultation is ready to be launched.”
