A project shaped with the village, for the long term…

Penrhadw Farm is first and foremost part of Pontsticill and the wider Vaynor area. While the project will welcome guests from further afield, we are equally focused on creating benefits that are real, local and lasting.

Our community commitments sit alongside the environmental and design strategy — covering parking, sustainable travel, local economic opportunity and shared use of spaces where appropriate.

This page summarises the core themes we are working towards as the plans progress through the planning process.

Community Commitment

We want Penrhadw to be a positive addition to village life, not a closed destination that turns its back on its neighbours. The project has been shaped through conversations with residents and a voluntary consultation process, and we will continue to refine the plans in response to local feedback.

  • Keep the development appropriately scaled for its setting

  • Design with privacy, noise and village character in mind

  • Share information openly through updates and consultations

  • Build long-term relationships, not one-off engagement

Our aim is simple: a thoughtful, locally rooted project that supports the National Park and helps Pontsticill thrive, while protecting the qualities that make this place special.

Village Fund

Parking pressure has long been an issue around Pontsticill, especially during peak visitor periods. Our proposals include a community-serving car park, with time-limited free access designed to help reduce pressure on village streets and improve the experience for residents and visitors alike.

  • A carefully sited car park set into the landscape

  • A proportion of spaces intended for wider community use

  • Planting, hedgerows and sensitive materials to soften views

  • Safe, legible walking links between parking and the village

We see this as a shared piece of local infrastructure — one that supports the village day to day while helping manage visitor impact more responsibly.

Bus Service & Lower-Impact Visits

We are exploring ways that Penrhadw can help support more sustainable access to Pontsticill, Vaynor and the wider Merthyr Tydfil area. Subject to local partners and operational feasibility, we aim to contribute to the long-term ambition of improved public transport options.

  • A framework to support a subsidised weekend service

  • Better access for residents, staff, and car-free visitors

  • Reduced pressure on local roads at peak periods

  • Alignment with broader active travel and visitor goals

This is an aspiration we want to pursue collaboratively. Our goal is to help make lower-impact visits easier, while supporting a more connected and accessible village. Keep the development appropriately scaled for its setting

Active Travel

Walking, cycling and enjoying the landscape are central to the character of this area. Our approach is to support active travel through practical design — making arrival, movement and connections safer and more intuitive.

  • Clear pedestrian routes between parking and the farm

  • Better integration with existing local paths where feasible

  • Cycle-considerate design within the site layout

  • A visitor experience that encourages slower, quieter travel

We want Penrhadw to feel connected with the way people already experience this landscape: on foot, at a slower pace and with respect for the valley and the landscape.

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Landscape, Grounds & Gardens

The gardens and wider setting of Penrhadw are designed to be a place to enjoy with your friends and family. Our gardens will be open to residents, visitors and guests with a welcoming landscape and a sense of openness and local character.

  • Landscape design that reflects historic rural patterns

  • Planting that strengthens biodiversity and seasonal interest

  • Quiet, respectful settings rather than high-intensity uses

  • Potential for community-friendly events and uses over time

Our aim is a landscape that feels like it belongs to Pontsticill — one that enhances the setting of the village, supports nature recovery, and creates pride in place.

Community Car Park

Parking pressure has long been an issue around Pontsticill, especially during peak visitor periods. Our proposals include a hotel and community-serving car park, with time-limited free access designed to help reduce pressure on village streets and improve the experience for residents, visitors and guests alike.

  • A carefully sited car park set into the landscape

  • A proportion of spaces intended for wider community use

  • Planting, hedgerows and sensitive materials to soften views

  • Safe, legible walking links between parking and the village

We see this as a shared piece of local infrastructure — one that supports the village day to day while helping manage visitor impact more responsibly.

Community benefit is not an add-on at Penrhadw; it’s part of the project’s purpose. As our planning submission progresses, we will continue to share updates on the Village Fund, community parking, sustainable travel and the long-term management of the land and gardens.

We want this to be a development that the village can genuinely point to with pride — thoughtful, practical and rooted in local life.