Local residents are being invited to have their say on the proposals for Hendre Lakes and Cardiff Parkway, a new railway station proposed between Cardiff and Newport, ahead of the submission of an outline planning application. This comes as Cardiff Parkway also reaches an important milestone in the railway station approval process.
The 90,000sqm Cardiff Hendre Lakes development, which includes Cardiff Parkway railway station, aims to bring connectivity, jobs and investment to South Wales. Located to the south of the existing St Mellons Business Park, the Cardiff Hendre Lakes site is allocated for employment use in Cardiff Council’s Local Development Plan.
The development will make a significant contribution to the regeneration of east Cardiff and the growth ambitions of the Cardiff Capital Region. Cardiff Hendre Lakes has the potential to support up to 6,000 jobs, as well as becoming a sustainable transport hub, helping people access other employment opportunities across South Wales and beyond.
The consultation period, which will run from Wednesday 05 August to Wednesday 09 September 2020, follows a period of public engagement activity which took place in November and December last year. The aim of this engagement was to ensure that local people had an opportunity to understand the potential benefits of the project and comment on the proposals at an early stage in the design process.
Nigel Roberts, Chairman of Cardiff Parkway Developments, said: “The public engagement activity last year was extremely successful, with more than 250 local people attending our drop-in events. Many people provided us with feedback on the initial Hendre Lakes and Cardiff Parkway proposals. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who got involved – the support for the project was overwhelming and the input valuable.
“We have taken this feedback into account to create a development that brings investment to the region, creates new employment opportunities, and connects people to a historic landscape. We are now holding a formal, pre-application consultation before we submit our outline planning application to Cardiff Council later this summer.
“In light of the coronavirus pandemic, we won’t be holding any public drop-in events this time. However, we have made lots of information available on our website and we hope as many people as possible get involved in this exciting project for Wales.”
During the five-week consultation period, the local community will be invited to provide feedback on the proposals. People can find out more about the project and give their views online once the consultation opens on 05 August by visiting the website www.cardiffhendrelakes.com.
The project has also now achieved the Governance for Railway Investment Projects 3 (GRIP 3) certificate from Network Rail, a process which ensures projects go through rigorous quality control. The Cardiff Parkway team worked with Network Rail and other key stakeholders to consider different design options ahead of securing GRIP 3. The project team will continue to work in partnership with the rail industry and all key stakeholders to finalise the station design.
Mr Roberts continued: “We are are thrilled that the project has moved one step closer to becoming a reality for the people of South Wales. We will now continue to refine the detailed designs to create a railway station and wider business district which will better connect and serve those in the east of Cardiff and beyond.
“Positive engagement with key stakeholders, including the Department for Transport and rail operators, is already underway and we are working as part of a wider industry group to review timetables and routes from December 2022.”
People can find out more about the project and give their views online once the consultation opens on 05 August.