OVER two years since plans to build 134 homes in Ystradgynlais were revealed, work is still ongoing on the application according to the developers.
The proposal for Persimmon Homes West Wales for two, three and four bedroom homes is supposed to be the second phase of development at land west of the former Penrhos school on Brecon Road.
It was lodged with Powys County Council planners in January 2023.
The application followed an application for 42 homes by the developer – known as phase one – which was approved by Powys planners in August 2022.
A spokesman for Persimmon homes said: “We’re in the process of amending the plans carrying out additional survey work and will be submitting a revised suite of information in the spring.”
The last report on the application that was made public on the Powys council planning portal came in May 2024 from the Coal Authority, which has since been re-branded by the UK Government and is now known as The Mining Remediation Authority.
The Coal Authority said they had “substantive concern” with the application.
This is because that geological reports on the land shows that there is a mine shaft: “recorded to be present within the site.”
The Coal Authority said: “There exists the potential for unrecorded coal mine workings to be present beneath the site at shallow depth.
“This mining legacy is considered to pose a potential risk of instability to development proposals at the site. ”
The proposal has been discussed by Ystradgynlais town council who said they had “no objection” to the proposal.
However, they did mention several points for consideration including: the need to have affordable housing as part of the scheme and for a review of local resources and infrastructure to take place.
Ystradgynlais council believe a contribution from the developers towards health and educations provision would be needed to deal with the influx of families to the town.
Powys county councillor for Abercraf and Ystradgynlais Labour’s Huw Williams has also asked that the application is “called in” to be decided by the planning committee.
Cllr Williams said: “I have spoken too residents living in the vicinity of this proposed development and the agreed view is that I should ‘call in’ this application for determination by committee due the scale of the development and the environmental and visual impact.
“There are also other concerns which the residents would also wish to articulate.”
Persimmon homes had explained their proposal in a design and access statement.
Persimmon homes said: “The mix offers a wide range of properties including starter, mid-market, and larger family homes.
“The house type style ensures that the proposed dwellings respond to the character of the area.”
They added that the site is considered to be a sustainable location that provides “access” to retail, education, recreational space, employment opportunities and public transport and that the development would provide a “massive boost” to the local economy.
A decision on the application had been expected by March 2023.
