You may have noticed that work is underway at Oxford Court in Ogmore Vale, marking a key milestone in the long-term regeneration of the well-known site.
Oxford Court consists of eight three-storey blocks of flats, backing onto Ogmore Vale Primary School. The homes were originally built to provide housing in the area, but over time, the buildings fell into significant disrepair and were no longer fit for purpose. The last customers moved out in 2021.
Before new homes can be designed and built, there is a lot of work required. Due to historic coal mining activity in the area, there are concerns that shallow mine workings may exist beneath the site. This means further investigation is needed to inform the final design and planning application.
In addition, there has been extensive negotiation with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to secure the bat licence and bat boxes required for demolition.
As part of the early works, Prichard Holdings Demolition Contractor has begun soft demolition on site. Scaffolding has been erected, and the removal of roof sections on blocks 3 and 4 is taking place this month. Over the next few weeks, the contractor will carefully remove roof tiles to identify any potential bat roosts before full demolition continues.
Next steps
When demolition is properly underway, the rest of the work is expected to be quick. After demolition, further ground investigations will continue, helping to shape the final design before a planning application is submitted.
We’re hoping to replace the existing blocks with new social housing for the people of Ogmore, providing homes that are safe, sustainable, and fit for the future.
While there is still a journey ahead, this stage is an important step in unlocking the site’s potential and getting the foundations right for what comes next.