Vale of Glamorgan Council
Cyngor Bro Morgannwg
Cost of Living Support Icon
​

New development at Eagleswell Road, Llantwit Major

The Council and Welsh Government are investing in the development of 90 units of temporary accommodation on the site of the former Eagleswell Primary School in Llantwit Major. The units will provide high-quality, short-term housing for those in need, such as refugees from the war in Ukraine.

 

Work on site started in 2023. The site (which is now known as numbers 1 to 90 Heol Croeso, Llantwit Major, CF61 1AL) has undergone a significant transformation since then.

 

Almost all of the modular homes have now been delivered and positioned on the site. Some are already fully complete and we anticipate all 90 units will be ready for families to move in by the end of Summer 2024.

 

Work is also well underway on other aspects of the site such as the internal road.

 

 

Work on the site began through the use of Permitted Development Rights, however, a planning application for the Heol Croeso development has since been submitted by the Council’s Housing team. This will now be considered by the Council’s Planning Committee.

 

In determining the application Committee will take into account all material planning considerations. These would include the visual impact of the development, its impact on neighbouring properties, parking and highway safety, ecology and green infrastructure provision. The planning report will also consider the local housing need.

 

Due to the sensitivity of issues related to the development this application cannot be considered or determined by planning committee in the run up to the general election (during the time known as the pre-election period). It is now likely to be considered in July 2024.

 

No families will move into the temporary homes until a decision has been made, and then only if planning approval is granted.

 

As it is unclear how long the war in Ukraine will last, it is not possible to say for certain how long the accommodation units will be needed. Once the conflict has ended, the time it may take for the country to stabilise and nationals to be repatriated is also not known.

 

The modular homes are not permanent structures and are intended to be moved to other locations in the Vale in the future. Exactly where will depend on local need at the time and the availability of appropriate land.

 

The Council is seeing unprecedented levels of extreme housing need and has seen a significant rise in the number of homeless applications in the last two years. These units will be one of the ways in which we support homeless families.

 

There are more than 200 families currently in temporary accommodation with on average four new cases moving into temporary accommodation each week.

 

On average single households can wait for up to 18 months before moving into permanent housing and families for up to 3 months.

 

This has led to the Council needing to place families in hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation for the first time in over a decade.

 

The Eagleswell site is allocated for housing development in the Vale’s current local development plan. However, there has also been discussion with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board about the use of some or all of the site for a new health centre for Llantwit Major.  These discussions will continue, and any permanent development of the site will be subject to public consultation.

 

Designs for the new development

The units being provided are built to exacting design and quality standards. They will form part of a visually-pleasing development. 

 

You can view the design images and a proposed site layout below. Hard copies of these images are also available to view at the Llantwit Major Town Council offices.

 

Proposed designs

 

Proposed site layout

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

  • Why is the Council rehousing Ukrainian nationals?

    Welsh Government has declared Wales a ‘Nation of Sanctuary’, emphasising its desire to help improve the lives of refugees and asylum seekers.

     

    The Council is committed to that aim and has a statutory as well as a moral obligation, as do all Welsh Local Authorities, to provide humanitarian aid and accommodation to those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.

     

    The Council is proud that since the start of the war it has made a significant effort to help those in need. Large numbers have been provided in short-term Welcome Centre and hotel accommodation, while hundreds of Vale residents have shown immense kindness in opening up their homes to Ukrainian evacuees.

     

    With the war in Ukraine likely to continue for some time, these families now need more suitable accommodation. That is what the temporary homes in Llantwit Major will provide.

  • What type of development is this?
    This site will contain 90 units of temporary modular accommodation for those who would otherwise be homeless and will resemble a typical residential housing estate.

    The units are designed for families. There will be a mixture of one, two and four bedrooms homes.


    The temporary development at the former Eagleswell site will only be used to provide homes for Ukrainian families who have fled the war in their home country. It will offer homes to those who have been living with Vale residents since 2022. If spaces remain then units will be offered to those families currently living in the Welsh Government run Welcome Centres.


    These units are not permanent structures so can be moved to another location in the future. The development on Eagleswell Road will be carefully designed and well presented.

  • Why was the former Eagleswell Road Primary School site chosen?

    Due to its size, the former Eagleswell School site is the only location owned by the Council’s Housing Department appropriate for this purpose. It was the only site that could be developed quickly in line with Welsh Government funding requirements and timescales and was vacant.

     

    Permitted Development Rights, which allow for development without needing planning permission, were used to begin this project. That was considered appropriate given the urgent need to provide real and meaningful assistance to those escaping the war, something all Welsh councils are required to do.

  • Did the Council consider any other sites?

    A range of alternative sites were considered, including those owned both by other Council departments and private individuals, but Eagleswell Road was the most suitable.

     

    The site is owned by the Housing Department, the service area responsible for emergency resettlement. It is also of sufficient size to significantly address the accommodation needs of those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

     

    Eagleswell Road is in a town setting and in close proximity to public services and transport. The site already has facilities such as a water supply, drainage and electricity, which means it can be developed quickly.

  • How long will this remain as temporary accommodation?

    As it is unclear how long the war in Ukraine will last, it is not possible to say for certain how long the accommodation units will be needed. Once the conflict has ended, the time it may take for the country to stabilise and nationals to be repatriated is also not known.

     

    As the use of the site will run beyond the beyond the 12-month period allowed for under the Permitted Development Rights that were used to begin construction, we have started the process to submit a detailed planning application to extend the use of the site for temporary accommodation.

  • Did you consider the impact on local services?

    This site is allocated for residential housing under the Council’s Local Development Plan. In assessing it for this purpose, evidence was considered relating to the sustainability of local services. The site has, as a consequence been deemed to be appropriate for residential purposes.

     

    Many of the children who will move to the site are already attending school in the Vale of Glamorgan. It is likely many will choose to stay in their current school. There are school places currently available in the Llantwit area which are likely to be more than enough for those families moving into the Vale.

     

    It is acknowledged that there are concerns within Llantwit Major about the level of local services, particularly health facilities, and in this regard further conversations on managing the impact of the development will continue when details of the exact requirements for education and other provision will become clear.

  • Will there be support for the occupants?
    The Council has a dedicated team of Support Workers and Tenancy Management Specialists who will work with Ukrainian residents to help them access services, support and employment opportunities.
  • How is the scheme funded?
    The scheme will be funded through the Council’s Housing Business Plan and financial support from Welsh Government.
  • How long will it take to complete work on the site?

    We anticipate all 90 units will be ready for families to move in by the end of Summer 2024.

  • What will happen to the site in the future?

    Once the emergency accommodation is no longer needed the temporary units will be removed and the site will be made available for development.  

     

    The site is allocated for housing development in the current Local Development Plan and any future use is likely to involve residential development. 

     

    There has also been discussion with Cardiff and Vale UHB about the use of some or all of the site for a new health centre for Llantwtit Major.  These discussions will continue and any permanent development of the site will be subject to public consultation.