View down street at Pentref Llewellyn, Swansea
Pentref Llewellyn, Swansea
Full Planning Application approval for a 166-home greenfield development in Swansea with Sustainable Drainage Systems.
Project information
Client
Barratt, David Wilson Homes
Location
Penllergaer, Swansea
The Challenge
Barratt & David Wilson Homes appointed us to secure Full Planning Application approval for a 166-home greenfield development in Swansea. The project coincided with the introduction of mandatory Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) across Wales, presenting two major hurdles: applying brand-new design requirements under a very short turnaround, and overcoming widespread industry uncertainty regarding how SuDS features would be designed for year-round aesthetic appeal, long-term management, and adoption.
View down street at Pentref Llewellyn, Swansea
Our Role
To deliver a high-density, highly efficient layout that remained commercially viable, we engaged in extensive pre-application negotiations with Swansea Council. This collaborative process ensured our detailed site layout aligned closely with the council's comprehensive Placemaking SPG while establishing a workable framework for mandatory drainage.
Navigating SAB, SuDS & Placemaking: Working closely with the client, engineering teams, and local authority, we integrated Sustainable Drainage Systems—including rain gardens and bioswales—directly into the site's spatial identity. We resolved complex Sustainable Drainage Approval Body (SAB) tree-planting constraints by designing dual-purpose features that combined traffic calming with consistent, multi-seasonal street greening.
Elevating Architecture: To establish distinct character areas aligned with the council’s placemaking vision, we refined standard house types to introduce a contemporary palette. Higher-profile parcels within the scheme received an elevated design finish, reinforcing key gateways and legibility across the site.
View down street at Pentref Llewellyn, Swansea
The Outcome
The result is a fully SAB-compliant, placemaking-led scheme where homes actively orient toward mature retained trees, perimeter "play-on-the-way" trails, and a focal gateway green space—demonstrating that mandatory SuDS can enhance, rather than compromise, long-term site aesthetics and urban design. The development is now fully built and occupied.
