The authority says the mocked‑up visuals are not genuine, and risk “causing confusion, misleading the public and spreading misinformation.”
‘They do not represent our plans’
Cllr Neelo Farr, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Housing, said:
“They may have been put together with the best of intentions, but the mocked‑up, fake images do not represent what we are trying to achieve in Porthcawl, nor are they based upon the latest proposals that we are in the process of updating.
Unfortunately, based on emails I have received and some of the comments made directly on the fake image posts, many people appear to believe that they are genuine, so I have to again stress that they are nothing of the sort.”
⚠️Disclaimer: These images are AI‑generated mock‑ups circulating online. Bridgend County Borough Council has confirmed they are not official and do not represent the authority’s regeneration proposals.
The council says official images illustrating the final proposals will be released later this autumn.
Nearly 1,000 new homes planned
The regeneration scheme is expected to deliver just under 1,000 new homes across the site, with up to half classed as affordable housing.
Cllr Farr said the homes would be “community‑focused properties suitable for a mix of families, people who live alone, couples just starting out, older residents and more,” and would be supported by new infrastructure and evenly distributed parking.
Shops, leisure and green space
Alongside housing, the plans include:
- New shops, cafés, restaurants and kiosks
- Pump tracks, skate parks and multi‑use games areas
- Pocket parks, play areas and flexible open space for seasonal events
- A landscaped green corridor linking the town back to the waterfront
- An expanded Griffin Park with new facilities such as a climbing wall and fitness trail
- Coastal defences at Sandy Bay with stepped revetments and new promenade retail units
The proposals are intended to complement projects already completed, such as the Metro Link and Cosy Corner.
Public engagement
The council says it has held more than ten consultation events over the past five years, and that many of the ideas suggested by residents have been incorporated into the final plans.
Cllr Farr added:
“I would ask anyone who views the fake images in the meantime to remember that they do not reflect the reality of our regeneration proposals, and to reserve judgement until later this autumn when you will have ample opportunity to view accurate, official images of what we have planned.”
