Walking and cycling are not treated as secondary options at Pontarddulais. They are designed in from the outset. New internal routes will connect homes to existing footpaths and cycleways, allowing residents to move safely and comfortably on foot or by bike.
These connections support everyday journeys. Walking to local services, cycling to the town centre, accessing schools, leisure facilities and public transport becomes easier and more appealing when routes feel direct, legible and safe. This is an important part of creating a place that supports active lifestyles and reduces reliance on the car.
Our approach aligns with wider Active Travel and public realm strategies across Wales, which encourage developments to make walking and cycling the most natural choice for short journeys.
At Pontarddulais, this means routes that are well surfaced and integrated with green spaces, so that movement feels enjoyable as well as practical.
Strengthening the Public Realm
The public realm is where community life happens. It includes pavements, shared paths, green corridors and open spaces that people use every day. At Bolgoed Farm, these spaces are designed to do more than move people from one place to another. They are designed to bring people together.
Paths are set within landscaped areas, linking homes to the surrounding countryside and existing trails. This creates a sense of continuity between the development and its setting. Residents can step out of their front door and connect directly with established walking routes that extend well beyond the site.
These links also support leisure and recreation. Access to longer walking and cycling routes encourages people to explore the local landscape, supporting physical health and mental wellbeing. It also reinforces Pontarddulais as a place that is connected to its natural surroundings rather than separated from them.
A Thoughtful Response to Place
The public access strategy reflects our wider design ethos. We plan developments that belong to their location and respond to the way people already use the land. Existing rights of way are respected and protected. New routes are designed to feel like a natural extension of what is already there.
This approach helps ensure that growth strengthens the character of Pontarddulais rather than diluting it. Connections between the town, the countryside and neighbouring areas are maintained and improved. The development becomes part of the journey rather than an obstacle within it.
“Movement shapes how a place feels. At Pontarddulais, we have designed our homes and spaces so that walking and cycling are part of everyday life. By connecting into existing paths and trails, we are creating a development that feels open, accessible and rooted in its surroundings.” Huw Llewellyn, Managing Director, Derwen May Homes
Supporting Health, Wellbeing and Sustainability
Good connectivity supports more than convenience. It supports health, inclusion and sustainability. Easy access to footpaths and cycleways encourages regular physical activity. It helps people of all ages stay active and independent. It also supports environmental goals by reducing short car journeys and associated emissions.
For families, these routes offer safe ways for children to walk or cycle. For older residents, they provide gentle, accessible links to green spaces and local amenities. For the wider community, they reinforce Pontarddulais as a place where movement is part of daily life.
Building Places That Connect
Our proposals at Bolgoed Farm demonstrate how new housing can strengthen existing networks rather than disrupt them. By linking directly into established footpaths and cycleways, and by designing a strong internal public realm, the development supports a connected and active community.
This is how we approach place making at Derwen May Homes. We look beyond the site boundary. We consider how people move, meet and live. We design homes that are part of a wider pattern of life.
At Pontarddulais, that means a development that connects people to their town, to the countryside and to each other. It is a place shaped by movement, access and care for the public realm.
This is the Derwen May way. Building homes that connect, and places that support everyday life.
Contact us to learn more.