Masterplan for development of �1.2 billion urban village between Neath and Swansea

A NEW masterplan for Coed Darcy has cleared the way for development of the �1.2 billion urban village between Neath and Swansea to begin in earnest.

Some homes have already been built and snapped up near the entrance to the sprawling development.

But now regeneration specialist St Modwen, which bought the 1,060 acre former oil refinery site at Llandarcy from BP in 2008, has confirmed it is working on a joint venture with a leading house builder.

It hopes to submit plans for the first phase of development within the main part of the site this summer.

The revelation comes after Neath Port Talbot Council gave its blessing to St Modwen's new masterplan for the development. The original had to be revised as a condition of the outline planning consent granted in August 2008.

Planning committee member Steve Hunt said: "This is an excellent project, and it was an excellent project in 2008.

"It's fabulous for Neath and Port Talbot. I cannot wait to see work commencing and the development actually taking shape."

Market

Head of planning Geoff White said the original time scale two years ago was for the first houses to have been built by now.

But that, he said, was before the housing market collapsed.

"Developers have slowed down," said Mr White. "But they have been doing things (at the site).

"They are three-quarters through the land remedial work, which is quite an achievement in itself.

"We are in discussions with St Modwen. We are expecting the first planning application for residential fairly soon."

Over the next two decades the intention is to build some 4,000 homes, along with three primary schools and one secondary, retail and leisure space and community sports facilities.

Eventually it could create 4,000 jobs, while the plans also include a southern link road to Fabian Way.

An initial 63 homes near the site entrance have been built in partnership with Atlantic Homes.

St Modwen's South Wales and South West regional director Rupert Joseland said: "Phase one of remediation at Coed Darcy is progressing extremely well and we are already working four years ahead of a seven-year remediation programme.

"The first phase of housing on-site was launched to market in June 2010 with more than 15 sales secured to date.

"We are also progressing the first phase of housing on the main site as part of a joint venture with Persimmon PLC and we hope to submit a planning application for this in the summer."

paul.lewis@swwmedia.co.uk

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503366/s/1373457d/l/0L0Sthisissouthwales0O0Cnews0Csummer0Edate0Evillage0Ehomes0Ebuild0Carticle0E33457790Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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