Land scorched by fire to become potential site for new housing estate

A fire-ravaged former car wash, tyre, car showroom and petrol station site in Bonymaen and land behind it could be transformed with new houses and flats.

Housing association Caredig and joint applicant Pentrechwyth Road Ltd have submitted plans to Swansea Council for 10 houses and 24 flats on the Pentrechwyth Road plot.

John Smith, who has lived in his terraced house opposite for around 50 years described what was there currently as an “eyesore” following a fire nearly three years ago. “I would just like to see it go,” he said.

Mr Smith said he didn’t mind new flats, but wanted to know where he would be able to park if the new development went ahead because his side of the road had double yellow lines.

He recalled a baker’s shop and bed shop at the site in decades gone by prior to a petrol station and then other businesses occupying it. The fire in September, 2020, he said, damaged his and three other houses.

Caredig intends to build eight three-bedroom houses, two two-bed houses, 12 one-bed flats, eight two-bed flats and four adapted one-bed ground floor apartments. There would be 34 parking spaces, including four disabled spaces and three electric vehicle charging ones, four spaces for visitors, and bike storage.

A design and access statement on Caredig’s behalf said it would be a “high-quality and attractive” place to live, with energy-efficient properties, new greenery, two open areas with benches, and boxes for birds and bats.

It said the plans had been refined following pre-application discussions with council planning officers, and that 10 flats were being created at the former Village Tavern pub site, which lies just to the west.

The planning documents include geo-technical and asbestos surveys, which found some contaminants in the ground and asbestos in a building and in debris on the forecourt and rear area. Planning officers will now consider the application.

Vivian Hann, who lives opposite the brownfield plot, said noise from the former car wash business could be heard seven days a week.

Mr Hann said parking concerns were uppermost in his mind when it came to the new development, especially on days Swansea City FC played home matches at the nearby Swansea.com Stadium. He said he was also keen to know who would be allocated the proposed flats and houses.

He added that the debris opposite had been there too long. “If that had been Mumbles, it would have been taken down straight away,” he said.