The proposal to replace three Swansea Valley primary schools with a new £22m ‘super school’ in Pontardawe is to go back out to public consultation.

The proposed super school, for three- to 11-year-olds, was approved last year by Neath Port Talbot Council, and included a six-lane swimming pool and specialist learning support centre.

However, a successful legal challenge was made against the plan by parent group Rhieni Dros Addysg Gymraeg, which argued the proposal would have a severe impact on Welsh-medium education in the area.

The plan was then deemed ‘unlawful’ by the High Court, and the super school could not go ahead as planned.

An officers’ report stated: “In January 2022, the council received notification the decision to approve the new school was to be challenged on three grounds all relating to the notion that a Welsh Language Impact Assessment should have been consulted on at the same time as the school consultation.

“The judgement was received in October 2022 and the judge found in favour of the applicant on one of the three grounds.

“Furthermore in June 2022, the new Rainbow Coalition administration at Neath Port Talbot Council indicated it wished to review the decision.”

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The council’s cabinet approved the recommended fresh round of consultation at their recent meeting on Wednesday, November 30.

Consultation is due to take place between December 5, 2022 and January 24, 2023. Responses will be reported to the cabinet for consideration in February 2023.

If members agree, after the consultation, to progress with the super school plans, a 28-day period would follow for the submission of objections.

Councillor Nia Jenkins, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Training, said: “As a result of the successful Judicial Review challenge to last year’s decision to approve the new school and the Rainbow Coalition’s desire to review it we were asked to approve a new period of consultation.

“The new coalition made it clear from outset that it wished to review this decision made by the previous administration and we would now urge residents to make their feelings known in this fresh round of consultation.”