Replacement Welsh-medium school at Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda Graigwen Road Cymer, Porth

What was proposed

The application proposed demolishing the existing school and building a Welsh-medium secondary school and sixth form with sports, community and transport facilities.

“The application proposes the demolition of the existing school buildings and the construction of a new Welsh‑medium community secondary school to accommodate up to 750 pupils aged 11–16, together with a sixth‑form for approximately 150 students. The new facility would provide around 8,750 m² of internal floorspace and is intended to deliver modern teaching accommodation, improved sports provision and enhanced external learning spaces.”

Officer report

The site

The school campus covers about 5.7 hectares, is mainly surrounded by housing, and includes existing buildings, playing areas, access points and landscaped spaces.

“Across the campus there are a number of separate detached or connected structures including a sports hall, car park, hardstanding, Victorian and later school buildings of up to four storeys. The School also benefits from playing pitches, both grassed and gravel, with informal grassed and landscaped spaces throughout.”

“Principal access to the site is gained from High Street (A4233) to the south, with a second access from Graigwen Rd to the north-east. Most of the School is surrounded by existing development, the majority of which is residential. The exception to this is the land to the north, which is open countryside, designated as a Special Landscape Area and contains a tract of woodland.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Earlier applications included an environmental impact screening decision, a replacement-school pre-application consultation and a granted sports hall application.

“25/1170/SSO: EIA screening request for proposed demolition of existing buildings and construction of replacement school building with community facilities, MUGAs, artificial grass pitch, playgrounds, landscaping, car parking, drainage works, sprinkler tank, plant, external lighting and associated engineering works. Decision: 16/12/2025, EIA not required.”

“05/1331/GREG: New sports hall & external works. Decision: 14/10/2005, Granted…”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the development sustainable and policy-compliant, with suitable design, transport arrangements, residential safeguards and biodiversity improvements.

“Vehicular access, on‑site parking and bus capacity, together with a Travel Plan, would ensure the scheme’s transport impacts are acceptable, whilst ecological mitigation and biodiversity enhancements will secure a net biodiversity benefit.”

“Therefore, the development is considered to be compliant with the requirements of the Local Development Plan and the aims of the National Sustainable Placemaking Outcomes set out within Planning Policy Wales.”

Officer report

What residents said

Two representations raised concerns about traffic and obstruction, spending priorities, height, outlook, trees, wildlife, parking and a possible rear access lane.

“Parents use the lane at the back of properties as a short cut. Making the School bigger will cause more of a problem and vehicles have obstructed access to properties. Parents have been abusive resulting in an occasion for the Police to be called. • Questions the priority for spending money on Welsh medium education instead of, for example, repairing highways.”

“Except for the removal of a few trees, the proposal does not include any changes to the wasteland situated between the existing footpath and the rear of the houses of 131 to 149 High Street, Cymer. The residents of these houses are prevented from any rear access to their properties because of this wasteland. Parking is a significant problem for most of the residents in the locality.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The committee heard from the agent and an objector, and the agent responded to the objector’s comments.

The committee decision

The committee approved the application in accordance with the director’s recommendation, with one councillor absent for the presentation and excluded from the vote.

“The Head of Planning presented the application to Committee and following consideration it was RESOLVED to approve the application in accordance with the recommendation of the Director, Housing and Regeneration.”

“(Note: County Borough Councillor M Powell was not present for the presentation and did not take part in the vote.)”

Minutes