Progress at last (From Penarth Times)

Progress at last

PENARTH'S controversial Billy Banks estate finally looks set for a total revamp following the release of a long-awaited report.

Leading consultants David Locke Associates have urged a complete makeover of Harbour View and Royal Close as part of the town's proposed Community Regeneration Project.

An officers' steering group at the Vale of Glamorgan Council has now produced a report on the consultants' recommendations, in which they say a "controlled whole site disposal" should be carried out.

Other recommendations include providing 80 units of affordable housing, pending the outcome of a housing options appraisal.

Officers also think the council should appoint agents/consultants to advise on and to market the site, and should commission David Lock Associates to develop the draft planning brief.

They say the BRE Eco-Homes standard of "good" should be adopted as a minimum standard for housing, while the issue of community centred redevelopment should be discussed.

They recommend a regular newsletter to update the public, while the remaining residents are advised on the process.

This report is now set to be discussed by the scrutiny committee (corporate resources). Conservative councillors for the Alexandra Ward welcomed the move.

Cllr Maureen Kelly Owen told the Times: "It's good that we've got to the stage where there's a strong plan in place for such an important scheme - one of the largest in Wales. "I think there's going to be a lot of concern about the increase in traffic, but there will be a traffic study carried out."

Cllr Allan Wicks said: "When the previous tenants were in there, most of them had cars. There were more tenants there than in this new development."

And Cllr John Fraser said: "I'm relieved to see that we're actually making progress. A lot of work has been put in by the management team."