**Developers Seek Delay to Key Road in Major Bridgend Housing Scheme**
A newly proposed change by developers could postpone the delivery of an essential link road meant to serve a significant residential development in Bridgend. The requested amendment has sparked local concerns and debate over the potential impact on infrastructure and community well-being.
The ongoing project, known as Parc Tondu, was given the green light by Bridgend County Borough Council in September 2020. Set to transform land off Maesteg Road in Tondu, the scheme aims to bring 405 new homes to the area. As part of the original approval, careful planning conditions were established to phase the development and ensure local roads could manage the influx of new residents.
One key stipulation required developers to limit house completions to 136 properties before constructing a new link road to reroute Maesteg Road near Parc Tondu. This mini-bypass was intended to ease pressure on the busy local network, particularly around the Pentre Felin retail park and the notoriously congested Tondu railway bridge junction. The community had widely supported this measure as a means of addressing anticipated traffic issues.
However, a fresh application submitted by Llanmoor Homes in April 2025 is now seeking to alter that condition. Instead of completing the crucial access road after 136 homes, the company is requesting permission to delay its construction until after 235 houses are built. This adjustment, if approved, could see the entire project timeline pushed back and potentially place additional strain on current road systems.
Llanmoor Homes explained their rationale by referencing recent traffic assessments. According to the developer, updated technical studies and a 2025 survey indicate the area’s roads have seen negligible growth in traffic since 2014. They argue that the latest data supports the claim that the existing network can cope with the increase in vehicles up to the 235th house being occupied, a milestone anticipated by the summer of 2027.
Their application stated: “This proposed change reflects an updated highway assessment, supported by technical data, which confirms that the local highway network can accommodate the proposed increased number of unit occupations in advance of the road’s completion without resulting in unacceptable impacts on highway safety or traffic capacity.”
Despite assurances from the developers, concerns have been voiced by members of the local community. St Bride’s Minor and Ynysawdre councillor Tim Thomas expressed his apprehension over the possible precedent this change might set. “This is further evidence, if any more was needed, that the planning system is not a level playing field between big developers and communities,” he said.
Councillor Thomas was openly critical of the assertion that traffic flows remained static, dismissing such claims as “preposterous”. He pointed out other factors likely to increase road usage in the near future, including the planned expansion of the WEPA site and prospective new nuclear developments in Llangynwyd.
“It’s vital that the Development Control Committee shows resolve on this matter,” he added. “If this proposal is allowed, it could open the door for major developers to routinely delay necessary infrastructure for large-scale projects throughout the borough.”
The forthcoming deliberation by the council’s planning authority is expected to take place in the coming months, as stakeholders await a decision that could shape future growth and development policy in Bridgend.
As the town continues to expand, the debate highlights the ongoing challenge local authorities face in balancing new housing supply with the need for timely delivery of supporting infrastructure. The case also exemplifies broader tensions between large housebuilders and community representatives, with infrastructure and traffic management central to discussions about sustainable development.
The outcome of this application is sure to be closely watched by residents, campaigners and developers alike, serving as a potential bellwether for how such issues will be handled in Bridgend and beyond.