Plasdwr, North West Cardiff
Development planning advice for Plymouth Estate for 7,000 units and community proposal

THE PROBLEM

• The Estate owned a large area of land on the western edge of Cardiff and having identified it as having long term development potential, wanted to pursue that status.
• Promotional activities for the Estate land within the North West Cardiff area relating to what is now Plasdwr, commenced around 15 years ago following the adoption of the City of Cardiff Local Plan. It was clear at the time that the continuing expansion of Cardiff would invariably lead to a need for greenfield sites in addition to the priority of brownfield sites.

THE SOLUTION

• The Estate felt that its land was well positioned to deliver for Cardiff and commissioned over a period of years at its own expense and risk, wide ranging and comprehensive development planning activities including master planning, highways, ecology and infrastructure planning. This was co-ordinated by Michael Lawley of Cooke & Arkwright, and built up a persuasive body of evidence as to the merits of this land when the next round of development land releases were needed.

THE RESULT

• The revised LDP, which has gone through Examination in Public (and the Inspector's report is now awaited), put forward a much more realistic proposed number of dwellings based on the Welsh Government population projections. This has included approximately 7,000 units in the North West Cardiff / Plasdwr area as well as community and district / local centre development. The Estate, represented by Cooke & Arkwright, and working with their lead partner Redrow, have carried out high quality master planning to develop a new, rounded distinct area within Cardiff which is to be known as Plasdwr - Cardiff's Garden City.

Cooke & Arkwright has acted for Plymouth Estate for over 50 years advising on its land holdings in and around Cardiff and across South Wales.