EditorMajor 250‑home Bryncoch development back on the table as new plans revealed
Long‑running scheme re‑emerges
A huge proposal to build a 250‑home estate at Leiros Parc has resurfaced as Codi Group — the new housing association formed from the merger of Pobl and Linc Cymru — opens a fresh round of public consultation.
The 11.8‑hectare site sits above Caewern on a sharp south‑facing slope. It is currently farmland, scrub and a former farmyard, but the new outline plans show one of the largest housing developments proposed in Neath in years.
The scheme includes homes, a small community hub, allotments, play areas, new walking and cycling routes, a bus loop and large areas of public open space.
Years of testing and design work
The Design and Access Statement shows the project has been in development for almost a decade. Site investigations began in 2017, with coal mining risk assessments, soil testing, drainage studies and topographical surveys carried out over several years.
Earlier versions of the layout were drawn up long before Codi Group existed, indicating the scheme has been progressing quietly in the background.
Contaminated soil across the site
One of the most significant findings is the discovery of elevated arsenic levels in the shallow soils across the entire site. The proposed solution is to cap the land with buildings, hardstanding and 600mm of clean imported soil in gardens and landscaped areas.
Coal seams were also identified, but engineers say the risk from old workings is negligible.
Steep terrain shapes the development
The DAS describes the slope as the site’s biggest constraint, with long cross‑sections showing how sharply the land falls away. The terrain dictates the road layout, drainage strategy and the distribution of open space.
Drainage tests show mixed results, meaning the estate will rely heavily on Sustainable Drainage Systems, including swales and soakaways. The scheme will require separate SAB approval alongside planning.
A network of high‑voltage overhead power lines crosses the land and may need to be buried to allow development.
Access, footpaths and green buffers
Access would come from Daphne Road, with a secondary pedestrian, cycle and emergency route from Leiros Parc Drive. A public right of way running through the fields would be retained and linked into new routes.
Large areas of the site are set aside as woodland buffers and “eco‑tone planting”, creating green separation between the homes and surrounding landscape. The plans also include a community park, kick‑about area and several small play spaces.
Allocated housing land with affordability requirement
The land is already allocated for housing under Neath Port Talbot’s Local Development Plan, with a requirement for 25% affordable housing. As a housing association‑led scheme, the final proportion could be higher, though this is not confirmed in the outline documents.
Residents can now comment on the plans through the statutory pre‑application consultation run by Asbri Planning. A full planning application will follow once the consultation closes on 16 February 2026.
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