Plans for a new Sainsbury’s to be built on the Brown Lenox site in Pontypridd have been given the green light by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council.
At last night’s Development Control Committee, councillors decided that planning permission should be granted to allow Sainsbury’s to build the new state-of-the-art store on the former industrial site.
The scheme will bring a capital investment of £50 million to Pontypridd, contributing to the town’s regeneration and creating between 300-350 full and part time jobs.
County Borough Councillor, Russell Roberts, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said: “This is a hugely important development for Pontypridd and the South of the County. This new development forms a strategic part of our regeneration ambitions for Pontypridd.
“This is a prestigious retail development, and a significant coup for the town, to secure Sainsbury for the Brown Lenox Site. The Sainsbury store will help re-establish Pontypridd as a major shopping destination within the South Wales Valleys.
“The face of Pontypridd is changing, with work underway on the regeneration of the town centre and work expected to start on the new Taff Vale Development. The Council’s vision for Pontypridd is coming to fruition; a retail development of this kind has been a long time coming and its importance should not be under estimated.
“The Council has put an incredible amount of effort into securing a prestigious development for the Brown Lenox site. The site, is in many ways the gateway to Pontypridd and the impressive Sainsbury’s retail scheme will act as a landmark development for the town.”
The proposals include:
- A raised store of c40,000 sq ft sales space and parking at ground level
- An eight-pump petrol station
- A 460-space shoppers’ car park
- Customer toilets and café
- Cash points and a recycling bank
- All fresh food counters and the TU clothing range
- A new access road from the A470 roundabout directly into the site
- Enhanced pedestrian and bus links to the town, as well as nearby housing estate
Graham Wilson, Sainsbury’s Regional Development Surveyor for Wales said: “We are delighted with the decision. This means that we can now focus on agreeing the final details before starting work and bringing forward the benefits of this scheme.
“This is not just important for Sainsbury’s as an opportunity to invest in Pontypridd, but it is part of a much bigger opportunity for regeneration in the town and a chance to create local jobs.
“Throughout our consultation process we received overwhelming levels of local support for our plans. The feedback has been invaluable in creating the right scheme for Pontypridd. We will continue to work with the council and the community as we move into the construction phase of the development and beyond.”
For almost 200 years the site was used as the home of the Brown Lenox factory, where many of Victorian engineer Isambard Brunel’s chains were made. The chainworks was the first sign of industrialisation to reach Pontypridd.
Councillor Paul Cannon, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development said: “I am pleased Council backed the proposals for the Sainsbury site. The development will act as a catalyst for the future regeneration of Pontypridd.
“Such a significant retail development is long overdue and coming alongside the £10.5M investment the Council has secured for Pontypridd, the improvements to the Train Station and the Taff Vale shopping development, the Council’s ambitions for Pontypridd are being realised.”
Sainsbury’s aims to start work on the scheme in spring 2011 with a view to the store opening in late 2011
