Beach town reveals huge waterfront masterplan with new restaurants, attractions and skate park
A HUGE new development is set to transform a seaside town dubbed the ‘jewel of Wales’.
Porthcawl, in Wales, is home to 16,000 and was even the hometown of both Gavin and Stacey stars Ruth Jones and Rob Bryden.
And its new waterfront plan is set to transform it with new attractions.
A new skatepark, pump track and mini golf course have been confirmed.
Other plans include splash parks, play areas and woodland attractions with treetop walks and climbing walls.
Seasonal events could include local fairs and fairgrounds too.
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Restaurants, shops and cafes will also line the seafront.
And 1,100 homes will also be built as part of the development, across three parts of town including Sandy Bay, Coney Beach and Salt Lake.
Councillor Neelo Farr of Porthcawl said: "Public consultation has proven to be a cornerstone of our efforts to regenerate Porthcawl and you only have to look at the illustrative masterplan to see how we have included as many of the ideas and facilities suggested by local residents as possible into our final stage proposals.
"Whether it is a pump track and skate park, a multi-use games area, room for new shops, cafes, restaurants and kiosks, pocket parks, interactive fountains and water features, new play areas for children of all ages, extensive green landscaping, potential mini-golf and overnight parking for motorhomes, or just plenty of flexible open space which can be used to host seasonal events ranging from fairs and fairground rides to ice rinks and speciality markets the waterfront regeneration masterplan really demonstrates the scope of Bridgend County Borough Council and Welsh Government's joint ambitious vision for the area.
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"With a substantial green corridor winding through the regeneration zone before reconnecting with the waterfront, Griffin Park could more than triple in size and benefit from a wide range of new facilities, such as a climbing wall and a fully equipped fitness trail, while Sandy Bay will be transformed with new coastal defences in the form of impressive stepped revetments leading down onto the beach and all-new retail opportunities facing out onto the promenade."
She added: "To make sure that the housing element is fully rounded we have also included a huge variety of opportunities for new leisure infrastructure as well as shops, cafes, and restaurants, space to allow potential expansion and growth at Newton Primary, and evenly-distributed parking facilities.
"We have also proposed introducing landscaped natural play areas including adventure, woodland and tree-top play facilities, studio space suitable for creative industries, cycle hubs, a duneside park featuring enhanced habitats, raised boardwalks, activity and viewing platforms, event space, and much more."
Despite being one of the largest towns in Wales, its train station closed in 1963.
However, the new development will also see the closure of Coney Beach Pleasure Park.
The 105-year-old theme park was named after the one in New York, and has 20 rides.
In the mean time, the town also has a huge Parkdean holiday park which had a huge £3.5million revamp in 2022.
And the town is even home to the world's biggest Elvis festival.
Another seaside town is set to reopen an abandoned attraction that closed 20 years ago.
Great Yarmouth's Winter Gardens first opened in the 1880s but fell into disrepair.
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New plans hope to reopen it as a multi-use venue, restoring many of the Victorian features as well.
Here is another huge seaside development set to open in the UK.
