Persimmon Homes has resubmitted plans for a new primary school to serve the future Llanilid housing development, working with the Council towards its delivery – and residents can now view and comment upon the proposals.
The housing developer has previously received outline planning permission for 1,850 homes at the former Llanilid Opencast Site, and this is considered to be the first phase of what is likely to be a larger development at this location – with the potential for at least 3,000 further homes to be built. In order to serve this expanding community, new local education provision is being developed.
In July 2019, the Council’s Cabinet Members progressed proposals for a new school following a public consultation exercise. They also agreed that the new building would initially be established as an extension of Dolau Primary School, managed by the school’s governing body and senior leadership team.
The new building will be built by Persimmon 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, however, Officers continue to work closely with Persimmon to progress its delivery.
The new school will have a total capacity of 540 primary education places – including a 60-place nursery – which will greatly expand the dual language education provision in the Llanharan and Brynna areas. The new building will be linked to the existing Dolau Primary buildings via a safe and secure pedestrian pathway.
Persimmon’s formal submission of the plans will be considered by the Council’s Planning and Development Committee in due course. If planning permission is granted, the school would be delivered by September 2024.
Councillor Joy Rosser, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Inclusion Services, said: “Cabinet has previously agreed to progress the important plans for a new 540-place primary school, required as a result of Persimmon’s major housing development earmarked for the former Llanilid Opencast Site. This could see up to 5,000 homes eventually built, which requires a large increase in the local primary school provision.
“The Council is working closely with Persimmon to deliver the school, which will be built with the very high standards of our 21st Century Schools developments. Pupils in communities across the County Borough are now enjoying modern facilities and stimulating learning environments – most-recently through a new £10.2m school building for Hirwaun Primary School.
“Cabinet has also recently agreed for the Council to further develop initial 21st Century Schools proposals using additional £85m Welsh Government funding – including projects in Llanharry, Cymer, Glyn-coch, Penrhys, Llantwit Fardre and Talbot Green, along with a new special school. This is in addition to the many other Band B projects which are currently being progressed – with two of those, at Ysgol Rhydywaun and YGG Aberdâr, now underway on site.
“Work to deliver the primary school to serve Llanilid has made important progress behind the scenes in recent months, and Persimmon’s planning submission is an important landmark. It follows an extension to the period of consultation with statutory consultees, including Natural Resources Wales and the Health and Safety Executive, which was agreed by Cabinet in July 2021.
“Residents are now welcome to view the plans, along with further detailed information, on the Council’s website. It’s also fantastic to see an artist’s impression image of the how the school would look, which really brings this exciting potential development to life. The Council will keep residents fully up-to-date with its progress, including the next stage of the process which is the formal consideration by the Planning and Development Committee.”
