Planning permission has been granted to build a 50-space ‘overflow’ car park in Clydach Vale to serve Cwm Clydach Country Park and users of the nearby sports club pitches. The new facility will be constructed on the land next to the industrial estate road, at the pictured location.
The Planning and Development Committee considered the application on Thursday, April 16, and Members agreed with officer recommendations to grant full consent for the project. The application includes provision of a connecting access road with junction improvements, and the development will include several extra disability spaces and new EV charging facilities to be installed in the existing nearby car park.
The Council’s application responds to current parking pressures at this location, where peak-time demand regularly exceeds the available capacity – resulting in potentially unsafe parking in the area. By helping to relieve this issue, the project will support the ongoing operation of Cwm Clydach Country Park – an important recreational and tourism asset for the County Borough.
The new car park will be free for all visitors to use, and will have a gated access that will be managed. The facility will be locked outside of the car park’s operating hours, and will therefore not be left open generally. This arrangement will prevent unauthorised access and deter anti-social behaviour.
The new facility will have a six-metre wide access road between the parking rows, and its surface will comprise a gravel/clean stone – intended to be low maintenance and durable, while supporting marked parking bays. A small area of informal off-road parking, next to the back lane off Railway Terrace, will be retained with some minor improvements. Vehicles will access the site from the existing industrial estate road, with the minor junction layout being revised. A low-lying boundary fence will be installed around the site perimeter.
In recommending the application for approval, officers noted the need for the additional and improved parking, with there being no other suitable location for such a facility near the country park. Their report also stated that the car park would not have a harmful impact in respect of visual appearance, residential amenity, flood risk nor ecology – while it would not reduce highway safety.
A spokesperson for Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said: “There is often a significant demand for parking at this location, with the area home to Cwm Clydach Country Park, the sports facilities at Cambrian United FC, and the Lakeside Café Bar. The Council has brought forward this project to provide additional, free parking to serve the area, as we continue to encourage visitors to use these local attractions while reducing the unsafe and informal parking that is often experienced – particularly around the industrial estate road.
“Importantly, the car park’s gated access will ensure it is locked when not in use. Preventing unauthorised access will also deter anti-social behaviour at the new facility. With planning consent now granted, the project will progress towards the construction phase, planned in the months ahead.”
Posted on 21/04/2026