WIREDGOV

The proposed new village could provide a mix of  affordable and private sector housing - with associated community facilities including schools and playing fields  and  also provide employment opportunities.

Business Minister Edwina Hart has approved funding for the study which will be formally submitted as part of the consultation process on the City and County of Swansea’s Local Development Plan (LDP).

She said:

"The LDP identified Felindre as a potential strategic future growth area for employment and residential mixed uses. The feasibility study into proposals for a new sustainable urban village will outline broad land uses for the site. The information from the study is needed to help inform any future decision and is a vital piece of work to take these proposals to the next stage."

The proposed new village would complement plans for the adjoining 60 hectare brownfield site at Felindre – the former British Steel/Corus tinplate works which closed in 1989. Now owned by Swansea Council, it has undergone extensive remediation works to create a strategic employment site.

This site – which hosted the National Eisteddfod in 2006 and was a base for a stage of Wales Rally GB on a number of occasions – has planning permission for 80,000 sq m of high quality offices and light industrial units.

The first phase of infrastructure works to serve the 12 hectare office and light industrial sites – funded jointly by the Welsh Government and Swansea Council with European funding assistance - is due to start early 2013.

A Joint Venture was agreed between Welsh Government and the Council in 2009 to deliver the strategic employment objectives for both sites in an integrated manner.

Both parties have agreed a feasibility study for the proposed sustainable urban village is needed to allow further consideration and the report will be submitted as part of the LDP Strategic Options consultation process which closes in October 2012.