Two years after Bridgend residents campaigned against plans for 450 new homes, a Welsh developer has confirmed it has bought the controversial land to build on.
Llanmoor Homes has purchased 54 acres of land on the outskirts of Bridgend , previously owned by Merthyr Mawr Estate.
It said the first residents could be moving in by next summer.
If detailed planning permission is approved by Bridgend Council , Llanmoor Homes wants to start building 450 brand new homes in Spring, 2020.
The site only has outline planning permission for development at this stage, which was agreed by Bridgend Council in 2018, despite opposition from more than 600 residents fearing traffic congestion and loss of habitat .
Other concerns included those from Welsh Water over drainage and water supply, the close proximity to a number of listed monuments and the former Tondu Ironworks, and pressure on local services – particularly schools and GPs.
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The site, which today appears swathed in green, is a former opencast site and is described in the Local Development Plan as 'brownfield and under-utilised'. It borders the 300 acre Parc Slip nature reserve, which has a visitor centre, wildlife, and numerous cycle and walking routes.
The existing outline planning consent states any development must include a minimum of 10% affordable housing (45 homes).
In addition, Llanmoor Homes must make a contribution of £1.62million towards local schools, and will also need to saddle the cost of a proposed 'mini-bypass' linking the A4063 Maesteg Road to the roundabout near Lidl.
Llanmoor Homes, a family-run housing construction company based in Talbot Green, has already built a number of award-winning homes in Tondu.
Simon Grey, managing director at Llanmoor Homes, is also a director of G&G Land which acquired 330 acres of land at Llanilid, Cardiff , as part of ambitious plans to transform Wales' M4 corridor .
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Tim Grey, sales director for Llanmoor Homes, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have acquired land for the construction of up to 450 homes at Tondu.
"Our previous award-winning development in Tondu proved exceptionally popular to home buyers in the Bridgend area.”
"We very much look forward to making a start on site and to building another development of high quality new open market sale and affordable homes.
"In addition to the housing, the development will also provide an area of up to 1,000 square metres of commercial development."
