Plans have been submitted for 160 new homes on a former mining site in the Swansea Valley. The proposal for the former Tirbach Washery in Ystalyfera would also include residential parking, roadways, and other infrastructure.
Site details and location
The brownfield land is accessed off the A4067 and sits close to the Gurnos Industrial Estate. It was previously operated as a washery associated with the Tirbach Colliery. The site is currently under-used, with several buildings and foundations left in a poor state of disrepair since its former use.
Proposed housing mix
If approved, the development would include one-bedroom "walk up" flats along with two, three, and four-bedroom houses. The plans state: "The vision for the scheme is to create a residential development which will contribute towards the need for a mix of high-quality homes within the locality, maximising the site’s regeneration potential and sustainable location."
The application adds that the scheme would represent a "sizeable contribution to the local authority’s housing requirements" if given the go-ahead. However, it acknowledges that extensive vegetation would need to be cleared, along with the removal of buildings and foundations associated with the former washery.
Consultation and risks
A public consultation was carried out in 2023, recording three objections. Concerns raised included risks to local ecology, pressure on the public sewer system, and the potential for pollutants from the development to enter the watercourse. A coal mining risk assessment also noted the risk of an unrecorded mine entry on the land, with a recommendation to discover its precise location before any construction takes place.
The plans were submitted to Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council in September 2026 and will now be considered by planning officers for approval.
