This is an exciting time for Porthcawl, with the town earmarked for significant funding and regeneration. To maximise the long-term benefits for residents and visitors, Bridgend County Borough Council and Welsh Government have formed a landowner’s agreement to see the Waterfront progress as one, harmonious development.
The Porthcawl Waterfront Regeneration project is now entering a key phase as the Council and Welsh Government collaborate on a comprehensive Masterplan for the Waterfront. This is the final stage of the consultation process, leading up to Statutory Planning Consultation (PAC) where we are looking to share with and hear from the community about the Masterplan for the Waterfront. The Masterplan proposals have been shaped by previous community engagement, including the Placemaking Strategy and the Open Space Concept Design consultations, ensuring that they reflect the needs of the local community whilst also building on the historic patterns of the town.
Following earlier consultation in February 2025, work progressed to amend and update the masterplan in a manner which responded to the consultation responses, alongside the completion of further technical work. In summary, the key areas where amendments were made following the February 2025 consultation relate to the following:
- • Lido swimming pool and gym among new additions to regeneration plans
- • New funfair rides to create iconic seafront landmarks and celebrate Porthcawl’s heritage
- • Building heights reduced and fewer homes planned across the regeneration area
- • Fresh seafront look includes space for hotel and new promenade for Coney Beach / Sandy Bay
- • 45 per cent more public open space, community facilities and routes for walking and cycling
- • Local people prioritised for housing, commitment to restrictions on holiday lets / second homes
The revised proposals were subject to further consultation from November 2025 to January 2026 as part of the statutory Pre Application Consultation Process. In response to the further feedback at this stage the following additional changes have been made as part of the Outline Planning Application stage proposals:
- • Public parking provision has been significantly increased, with up to 150 additional spaces across the site, bringing the total to 750 spaces. Parking is now concentrated into clearer, larger clusters in highly accessible locations
- • Removal of the residential block from the Coney Bay Gardens. The change responds directly to concerns about beach and seafront parking during peak periods
- • The removal of development from Coney Beach Park also creates greater flexibility for early delivery, allowing parking, the park, and associated access infrastructure to come forward as an early phase
- • Public toilets have been added adjacent to Coney Beach Park and a primary car park, scaled appropriately for peak visitor numbers and integrated into a larger kiosk building to improve visibility and usability
