Residential care home at Salem Calvinistic Methodist Chapel Brynawel, Creunant

“Full planning permission is sought to change the use of a redundant chapel (Use Class D1) into a residential care home (Use Class C2) with the applicant’s agent confirming that the intention is to accommodate up to 6 adults with learning difficulties and their support staff.”

“The proposed external alterations to the building are confined to the ground floor rear elevation of the existing chapel with the introduction of new bi-bolding doors so that the proposed new kitchen/dining area connects with the outside curtilage/garden area. All other existing doors and window openings within the chapel and school room buildings are unchanged.”

“The application site comprises a late 18 th Century chapel, parts of which have been rebuilt in subsequent centuries, within enclosed grounds in the community of Crynant. The building is a traditional Welsh chapel design that is typical of the period, when chapels played a central and active role within their communities as was the case in many of the South Wales Valleys.”

“The surrounding land use is predominantly residential, and a number of residential properties have their rear gardens sharing a boundary with the application site. The site is enclosed by a substantial stone wall, circa. 1.5m high with ‘cock and hen’ stone coping detail. The site has an existing pedestrian access gate and a separate vehicular access that lies to the west of the pedestrian access. There is an area of existing hardstanding at the front of the building.”

“Pre-application planning advice was given on the principle of development. Post- submission amendments were negotiated in respect of highway and drainage requirements.”

“From an examination of our records, the application site/ property has no planning history.”

“It is considered that the proposal represents an appropriate form of development that would have no unacceptable impact on cultural heritage, the residential amenity of the area, highway safety or biodiversity. Accordingly, the proposed development is in accordance with Policies SP21, SC2, BE1, BE2, EN6 and TR2 of the Neath Port Talbot Local Development Plan.”

“APPLICATION NUMBER – P2026/0371 Biodiversity: No objection.”

“Tree Officer: No objection subject to conditions.”

“In response, to date 17 no. representations have been received, including signed declarations from 6 separate residents regarding the historic use of the site access, with the issues raised summarised as follows: -”

“Highway safety • Parking provision • Visibility distances and splay inconsistency with suggested planning condition 6 • Traffic generation • Intended use and operation • Age of occupants • Noise and disturbance • Overlooking and loss of privacy • Residential amenity…”

“As a consequence of retaining the existing stone boundary wall (at a reduced height of 0.6m), the full visibility requirement (of 25m in both directions) is not achieved. However, the revised access arrangement would improve access and egress and visibility when compared to the existing access arrangement and is therefore considered to represent…”

“APPLICATION NUMBER – P2026/0371 a betterment over the current situation. In addition it retains the existing wall, albeit as a lower height. On this basis, the proposal is viewed as providing an improvement in terms of overall highway safety when compared to the fallback position. Or the alternative which would be either no parking, or the removal of the wall in its entirety.”

“P2026/0371 - Salem Calvinistic Methodist Chapel Brynawel Crynant RESOLVED: Application No. P2026/0371 - Salem Calvinistic Methodist Chapel Brynawel Crynant, Change of use of existing Chapel to Residential Care Home (Use Class C2), be approved subject to the conditions contained within the circulated report. 6. Planning Annual Performance Report Resolved: That the report be noted.”