Planning approval has been granted for a state-of-the-art Welsh-medium primary school in Port Talbot.
The new development will replace the existing Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Rhosafan and the Tir Morfa training centre, which will be demolished once the new facilities are completed.
The project will deliver a modern, environmentally sustainable learning environment for up to 511 pupils, including nursery and childcare provision, an Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Unit, and part-day places for a Welsh Immersion Unit (WIU).
The development will feature a part single-storey and part two-storey school building, complete with a sports pitch, multi-use games area (MUGA), play areas, highway and access improvements, extensive landscaping, and associated works. The new school will offer high-quality teaching and learning spaces, alongside modern sports and play facilities.
The Tir Morfa training centre, which provides adult education services, will also be incorporated into the new development.
The project is part of the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Schools Challenge Programme, which supports the creation of schools that are environmentally sustainable and involve local communities, including pupils, in the design, delivery and management of the school. The development is one of only three projects selected across Wales to serve as a blueprint for future school design and delivery.
It also forms a key part of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Strategic Schools Improvement Programme (SSIP), which aims to ensure all pupils have access to high-quality education in modern, fit-for-purpose facilities.
Cllr Nia Jenkins, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Education & Early Years, said:
“This marks a major milestone in the council’s Strategic Schools Improvement Programme, which is focused on ensuring all pupils have access to high-quality education in modern, fit-for-purpose facilities.
“The development will also incorporate adult education provision and has been designed with sustainability at its core — creating a learning environment that supports both current and future generations.
“Importantly, this new school also supports our Welsh in Education Strategic Plan, which sets out how we will support and further develop Welsh-medium education across the county borough. The inclusion of a Welsh Immersion Unit is a key part of this — giving latecomers to the Welsh language a chance to develop their language skills and access Welsh-medium education.”
Construction is set to begin in late 2025.
