PLANS have been submitted to demolish existing apartment buildings in Merthyr Tydfil and build 40 flats in their place.
The proposal is for the demolition of the apartments on the Cefn Isaf site in Cefn Coed y Cymmer and the construction of two new blocks.
The apartments will be for social rent tenants of Merthyr Valleys Homes and be made up of 26 one-bedroom and 14 two-bedroom apartments, with 30 car parking spaces and 26 cycle spaces.
The design and access statement said the current flats were built in the 1960s and due to structural issues, it was determined a new scheme would be the most viable long-term option.
After consultation with the existing tenants and leaseholders, people started moving out in 2020 and this was completed in April 2021.
The statement said the current building is in a poor state of repair and is no longer suitable or fit for purpose.
It said re-use and retrofit of the building could be possible but would come at significant expense and would not resolve the design and layout issues that make it unsuitable for contemporary housing so proposals seek to demolish and rebuild which is considered more viable.
It also said the style and form of the building is not popular with local residents and neighbours and there is no potential to retain elements of the building within a new proposal.
The statement said the current parking provision is limited and constrained by the building footprint with additional dependency on on-street parking.
It said: “The northern massing sits very close to Pontycapel Road, overhanging in one location and limiting street visibility and road width. The nearby viaduct is listed and views will need to be considered.
“There is a lack of servicing space and the central amenity space is both overlooked and a place for anti-social behaviour; which affected former residents.”
The statement also said: “The redevelopment of the Cefn Isaf flats scheme represents new opportunities for Merthyr Valley Homes to provide a new scale of development and deliver high-quality, sustainable, low carbon homes for their tenants and future leaseholders.”
It will also include associated car parking, landscaping, infrastructure and earthworks.
