By Bryana Francis

Copyright walesonline

A Welsh council has issued a statement after unofficial “misleading” CGI images were shared online claiming to show what a major coastal redevelopment would look like. The Salt Lake and Porthcawl waterfront regeneration is set to transform the seaside town, with work on the project set to begin by March 2027. In January, Bridgend County Borough Council shared their masterplan for the site which has been met with mixed reactions from locals. The regeneration includes 1,100 new homes along the seafront, as well as shops, cafes, restaurants and leisure attractions. As part of the redevelopment, up to 450 homes would be built in Sandy Bay, 200 at Coney Beach, and up to 450 at Salt Lake. The plans also include new shops, cafes, restaurants and kiosks, pump tracks and skate parks, multi-use games areas, pocket parks, new play areas, and open spaces. In the last week, numerous images have been circulating online claiming to show what proposed housing will look like as part of the scheme prompting backlash with residents who have believed the images and don’t like them. Stay informed on Bridgend news by signing up to our newsletter here . The council have urged residents not to be tricked by the fake images which they said are “causing confusion, misleading the public and spreading misinformation” and are not representative of what they are trying to achieve. They also confirmed they would be sharing their own official images later this autumn which “will accurately illustrate our ambitious final proposals for the regeneration area”. Councillor 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. “While our plans include just under a thousand much-needed new homes, we should remember that they are being proposed against the wider backdrop of a national housing crisis. “They will be spread all throughout the regeneration area, and will be community-focused properties suitable for a mix of families, people who live alone, couples just starting out, older residents and more. She continued: “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.” Councillor Farr also explained that the council have held 10 consultation events in the last five years and said the new plans would complement recent regeneration projects in the area like the Metro Link and Cosy Corner. However, some residents and business owners believe what they call “prime spots” along the seafront should be reserved for leisure facilities which would have a positive impact on the whole wider community. Since the plans were announced in January, many people in Porthcawl have been campaigning against the regeneration, with a Facebook group set up against the plans gaining over 4,000 members in the space of a few months. Residents have also raised concerns about the impact the new homes will have on road infrastructure, medical services and pre-existing sewage problems.