Porthcawl CPO Section 19 Application

Porthcawl CPO – Application for a Certificate under Section 19 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981

In October 2021, Bridgend County Borough Council made a compulsory purchase order (“CPO”) for the purpose of facilitating a comprehensive mixed-use redevelopment of Porthcawl Waterfront in line with the Council’s adopted local development plan. It is intended that the proposed development will include residential development, open space, retail and commercial development, a new school (or expansion of existing educational facilities), recreational and leisure facilities and new highway.

The CPO has been submitted to the Welsh Ministers (via Planning Environment Decisions Wales) for confirmation, and a public inquiry has been convened for September 2023.

Part of the land included in the CPO comprises part of Sandy Bay Beach (“the Land”). which is accessible to the public for recreational purposes and, therefore, it could potentially be argued comprises open space within the meaning of section 19 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (“1981 Act”). To avoid any uncertainty regarding this issue, the Council submitted an application to the Welsh Ministers for a certificate under section 19(1(aa) of the 1981 Act, on the basis that the Land is being acquired in order to secure its preservation or improve its management.

The application submission explains the background and rationale for submitting the application in greater detail, and sets out the Council’s case as to why a certificate should be granted. In particular, it will be noted that the Land will continue to be accessible for public use once the relevant construction works associated with the proposed development have been carried out, and that, in the Council’s view, the Land will be of a better qualitative standard than it is at present.

In March 2022, the Council was informed that the Deputy Minister for Climate Change had considered the Council’s application and was satisfied that the Land was being purchased for the purposes referred to above, and requested that the Council arrange for the publication of a Notice of Intention to issue a certificate under section 19(1)(aa) of the 1981 Act. This notice was published in a local newspaper on 15 June 2023, and copies of the notice were erected in the vicinity of the Land on the same date. The notice gives a period of 21 days, which expires on 7 July 2023, during which representations or objections may be made.

Have your say:

Any representations or objections should be submitted in writing and addressed to:

Designated Landscapes & Countryside Access Branch accessandrecreationmynediadahamdden@gov.wales

by 7 July 2023, quoting reference MA/LW/0492/22.

A copy of the application, including a plan identifying the Land, can be viewed via the links on this web page or at

Porthcawl Library,
Church Place,
Porthcawl
CF36 3AG

between 9.15am-6pm on Monday, 9.15am-5pm on Tuesday, 9.15am-1pm on Wednesday and 9.15am-5pm on Thursday to Saturday. Please note the library is closed for lunch between 1pm-2pm Monday to Saturday and is not open on Sunday.