Cardiff Local Development Plan 2006 – 2026: Masterplanning

Masterplanning Response Form As part of taking forward the Local Development Plan (LDP) to Deposit Stage, the Council is carrying out a masterplanning process for potential strategic sites to be included in the LDP. This will set out the guiding principles and provide a general framework for development of the sites should they be included in the Deposit Plan.

To help inform this masterplanning process, your views are sought on:

1. 10 Masterplanning General Principles These will act as a framework for the development of the sites so they can create sustainable communities.

2. County-wide context maps These show work in progress to define key features and potential infrastructure relating to the environment, local neighbourhoods and the strategic transport network.

3. Site specific issues More detailed feedback is sought on site specific matters which will help determine which sites should be included in the Deposit LDP, what things need to be done to help address impacts and meet local community needs. There is particular focus on the strategic sites set out in the Preferred Strategy (refer to table below) however there is also an opportunity to comment on any site in the Candidate Site Register.

Please use this form to set out your views on the masterplanning approach. Simply provide your comments to the questions asked. If you require additional space to answer any of the questions please use the blank sheet at the end. You do not have to answer all questions if you do not want to.

Please note that all representations received will be made available for public inspection, and cannot be treated as confidential.

Please also note that these events do not in any way predetermine decisions on site allocations in the Deposit LDP. Work relating to the masterplanning may assist informing considerations on the overall suitability or otherwise of sites to be allocated in the Deposit LDP. However, masterplanning work on a given site does not mean that site will be automatically included in the Deposit LDP. Decisions on allocations will reflect consideration of all material matters, evidence collected, wider feedback and will be presented to Council as part of the Deposit LDP documentation in September 2013.

Forms should be received by no later than Friday 22nd March and can be returned in the following ways:  At an event: place in the response form return box at the event.  Online at: www.cardiff.gov.uk (follow link Cardiff Local Development Plan>Latest News)  By post: LDP Team, Strategic Planning, Cardiff Council, Room CY1, County Hall, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff CF10 4UW

1. MASTERPLANNING GENERAL PRINCIPLES

The Masterplanning General Principles are intended to act as a framework for the development of sites so they can create new sustainable communities.

Having read the masterplanning general principles document, do you agree with the Council’s approach to the 10 principles? Please give any additional comments on the individual principles in the box provided.

General Principle Yes No Additional comments 1. Masterplanning X We consider that Cardiff needs to aspire to a strategic vision for Cardiff as the Capital City of Wales in the early part of the 21st Century that builds on the vision that preceding generations had in the early years of the 20th Century. This created a compact city in an outstanding landscape setting of the sea, surrounding hills, river valleys and parkland, with a fine Civic Centre, excellent transport network and well planned suburbs. The challenge is to expand the City without losing its intrinsic quality and character.

In this context, we support the Masterplanning approach and the phasing of site development within a lower overall level of housing than put forward in the Preferred Strategy. It will be vital to ensure that the required infrastructure is in place before development begins. However, this requires consideration of delivery and funding issues, so these should be included as 1 of your 10 Principles (see comments section below).

Existing communities and community groups in the area should be consulted on each draft masterplan as it emerges.

2. Development x The principle of higher densities close to neighbourhood centres Density in the new strategic sites is supported, but this should be considered as part of NEW Principle 6: High Quality and Sustainable Design at Appropriate Densities, with Distinctive Character

This would make room for a NEW Principle 2: Sustainable Infrastructure Funding and Delivery (see ‘Other comments’).

3. Sustainable X Connections between sustainable transport within strategic sites Transport and in existing communities must be planned from the outset. Corridors Land needs to be allocated (not just safeguarded) as sustainable transport corridors both within and beyond development sites.

A new rail link or express bus route from Rhondda Cynon Taf via Creigiau into the city centre needs to be provided as soon as possible, so Network Rail, plus Bus and Rail Transport Operators need to be an integral part of the Masterplanning team for sites in North-west Cardiff.

Development at the scale envisaged also requires a more direct link from the North West Cardiff site to the A4232 than exists currently, to encourage traffic that needs to travel to the City Centre or Cardiff Bay to take that route rather than add to traffic congestion in Llandaff and Fairwater.

The Taff Trail provides a green link between communities and into 2

the city centre. It is an excellent example of a sustainable transport corridor but cannot be expected to cope with the full transport demand from the new Strategic Sites, so other cycle routes are required in the north west sector.

4. Sustainable X Additional public transport services must be provided in advance Travel Choices of the development of housing on all strategic sites, otherwise the Plan will be unworkable and thus unsound.

5. Neighbourhood X Many previous S106 agreements have resulted in eventual loss of Centres land reserved for schools, community use or open space. Each masterplan should include a requirement to actively develop sites for the identified use within the Plan period.

6. High Quality X An important element of Cardiff’s character is that each of its Sustainable Design existing neighbourhoods has its own identity. The strategic sites at Appropriate should be developed as a series of discrete ‘villages’ within an Densities and extension of the City’s ‘green web’, to avoid urban sprawl and the Distinctive tendency to a housing mono-culture. We need to avoid further Character developments like Pontprennau and Radyr Sidings with their awkward road layouts and pattern-book housing.

New development needs to be orientated to make access to footpaths, cycleways and public transport more convenient than car travel. Dedicated bus-only routes - such as are provided in Cardiff’s twin city, Nantes - should be incorporated into the layouts to link village clusters.

Masterplans should emulate the best of current sustainable housing designs and layouts in the UK and Europe, tailored to each local area.

All development should be orientated so that walking, cycling and public transport use is more convenient than private transport.

Shared surfaces should be provided as much as possible within the new housing areas to cut down on the amount of impermeable tarmac and thus run-off. Every effort should be made to design legible layouts which will help to cut down on unnecessary signage and street furniture, thereby improving townscape and reducing future maintenance costs.

Heritage assets should be integrated as a positive element in new and existing areas to enhance place, value difference and retain identity. The latter would be helped by taking local names for each village nucleus and using these as much as possible for new street names.

7. Integration with X New developments should be planned as a series of discrete Neighbouring “villages” within an extension of the City’s existing ‘green web’ Areas provide distinctive places that replicate the best aspects of the pattern of urban growth in the City.

New communities should have new facilities and should not be expected to rely on sharing already over-capacity facilities in existing communities. Any shared facilities should be to the benefit of all.

8. Strategic green X The retention and additions to the web of green spaces is vital to open space the future of Cardiff. The Green Belt should cover not only the corridors area north of the M4 motorway but the river corridors, parks and green spaces.

9. Landscape, X The Green Belt should cover the area north of the M4 motorway biodiversity and plus the 3 major river corridors, and the cross-linking web of parks historic features and green spaces.

The strategic sites should include footpaths and wildlife corridors linking to open countryside to maintain wildlife populations.

Full protection should be afforded to areas of historic, scientific and landscape value both within the strategic areas and elsewhere in Cardiff.

10. Resource X All decisions need to be taken in line with the City’s sustainability Efficiency aims so that new development enhances, and does not detract from, Cardiff’s unique qualities and environment. The Council should seek to maximise the value obtained from its engagement with stakeholders including community and local interest groups.

Public resources are severely limited, and will remain so for much of the Plan Period. It is thus vital that the full benefit of the developments proposed is secured for the City as a whole, and any wasted effort minimised.

Any other comments

A NEW Principle 2 should be inserted: Sustainable Infrastructure Funding and Delivery

Our comments in relation to this new Principle are as follows:

There will be pressure on all public and community facilities which means that the whole masterplanning and delivery process needs to be handled carefully and with sustained involvement of all stakeholders. This must be carried through this plan period and into the roll-forward of the LDP ie to 2026 and beyond.

Strict phasing will be essential if the City is to avoid creating problematic travel patterns and poor quality access to facilities. In particular, public transport infrastructure (rail and bus-ways) needs to be provided ahead of occupation of new housing to ensure that occupants develop sustainable transport patterns from the outset.

A revolving infrastructure fund (RIF) should be established to pay for regional transport infrastructure without affecting current programmes. The RIF should be set up in association with the Welsh Government, with the intention that financial returns should be fed back to be re-invested in new schemes. This mechanism should be modelled on one already established in England, funded from the Growing Places Fund launched in 2011.

A Community Infrastructure Schedule should be drawn up in parallel with the LDP, listing all the infrastructure and expenditure necessary to cater for the development proposed in the Plan. It would provide the basis for charging an appropriate Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) on all new development.

2. COUNTY-WIDE CONTEXT MAPS

Maps on display will show work in progress summarising information relating to the environmental, neighbourhood and transportation context. These provide a spatial context for the consideration of issues in relation to individual sites.

Please provide any comments you might have on the maps such as:  Additional information you think could be shown  Any text which could be annotated to go with the map

County Wide Context Maps Any comments 1. Environmental

2. Neighbourhood

3. Transportation

3 SITE SPECIFIC ISSUES

If you wish to comment on a number of sites please print off further copies of section 3 (pages 4 and 5).

i. Please identify which site you are commenting on: (please tick appropriate box)   A. Cardiff Central Enterprise Zone and F. South of Creigiau Regional Transport Hub √ B. Former Arjo Wiggins Works, Canton G. North East Cardiff (West of Pontprennau) C. Former Gas Works, Ferry Road H. North East Cardiff (East of Pontprennau) D. North West Cardiff √ I. Porth Teigr (Roath Basin South) E. North of Junction 33 on M4 √ J. South of St Mellons Business Park If other site (please state number and site name from candidate site register) ii. Please provide your address to help the analysis of findings? House number / Name Postcode 2 Bridge Road, Llandaff, Cardiff CF5 2 PT iii In terms of your local knowledge and experience, please indicate what the existing provision is like near the site? NB ALL RELATE TO ALL 3 SITES Please  appropriate box Any further comments Good Average Poor ENVIRONMENTAL Environmental and social assets in Llandaff: Play areas √ 1 adjacent to Danescourt Primary School 1 in Llandaff Fields Small local parks √  Danescourt adjacent to Llantrisant Road  Danescourt adjacent to the local centre  Insole Court Large open spaces (eg. √ Nearest is Taff corridor, also Llandaff Fields, Heath Park) Pontcanna Fields, Thompson’s Park, Recreational sports √ Llandaff Fields grounds Pontcanna Fields Bishop’s Field (private) Arles Field (private) 5

Wildlife / natural areas √ Farmland, woodland, streams and river valleys south of the M4 and north of Llandaff; Taff green corridor Walking √ Taff Trail is at some distance from either site cycling routes linking to the wider countryside √ New link to Hailey Park

LOCAL Facilities in or very near to Llandaff: NEIGHBOURHOOD Schools √  Radyr Compehensive (in Radyr)  Ysgol Gyfun Plasmawr (in Fariwater) and  Danescourt Primary School  Ysgol Pencae  Llandaff Church in Wales Primary School  Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales High School  Howell’s School, Llandaff - private 3-18)  Cathedral School - private 3-16 (6th form opening Sept 2013) - though no school in Llandaff is within walking distance of the new sites

Youth Centres √ 1 at Radyr Comprehensive School Sports facilities / Leisure √  Llandaff Rugby Club – private centres  Llandaff Rowing Club - private  Bowling Club – private (now closed and being developed for housing)  Cardiff Riding School and the following in Llandaff Fields:  Tennis Courts  Bowling Green  Rugby pitches  Football pitches and nearby in Fariwater:  Dry Ski Slope Health centres / dentists √  1 dentist and health centre in Danescourt  1 doctors’ surgery in Llandaff  Rookwood Hospital(no A&E) – closing soon  Podiatry Centre at Cardiff Met University Local Shops √  Llandaff High Street - Bank, PO, pharmacy, small supermarket, 2 hairdressers, 3 estate agents, 6 café/restaurants, 4 pubs  Danescourt – newsagent, small supermarket, pharmacy  Llantrisant Road – at petrol station  Waungron Road – small supermarket, deli, café, hairdresser, beauty parlour, estate agent Supermarkets √ Superstore at Tesco, Western Avenue (close to the edge of the ward, in Gabalfa)

Religious facilities √ Llandaff Cathedral St John’s, Danescourt also:

RC Church (Fairwater) Methodist United Reformed Church (Fairwater) Church Hall, Danescourt Parish Hall, Llandaff

Community halls √ Insole Court (proposed) Libraries √ None

Waste / recycling √ Waungron Road (Fairwater) facilities TRANSPORTATION Public transport services √ Bus services along Llantrisant Road from the Rhondda Valleys and Llantrisant to Cardiff - but subject to severe delay at peak hours Train : City Circle via Danescourt and Twllgoed stations Dedicated bus lanes √ Palace Rd northbound at Western Ave junction (bus collar)

Access to bus stops √ Nearest is on Llantrisant Road

Access to rail stations √ Very poor, with no car parking provision at City Circle stations

On road and off road √ Taff Trail: off road (for the most part). Trail cycle routes itself is good.

On road: none. Roads are dangerous for cyclists because of poor road condition and parked cars Facilities for walking √ Taff Trail – walking/cycling route into Cardiff or journeys to north

No other similar walking links to neighbouring communities. Footpaths are not always usable all year round and footway surfaces are patched, subject to root heave, and generally poorly maintained. Traffic conditions on √ There is severe congestion on the main routes local roads/at key through Llandaff at peak times, and heavy junctions traffic throughout the day and evening. The Transport Appraisal undertaken for Radyr and Morganstown Community Council shows that there is no realistic solution to resolving the severe bottleneck experienced at Llandaff.

The roads and transport (public and private) in existing communities are barely adequate now, and will not be able to cope with the demand that the LDP strategic sites will place on them. OTHER Community Council √ Not in Llandaff

Community and √ Numerous, but most are located beyond voluntary groups walking distance from either site

7 iv As part of the masterplanning approach the Council are developing site specific principles. Are there any proposals you would like to see taken forward in the masterplans for the site you are commenting on? NB THESE REPEAT POINTS IN 1. ABOVE, ADDING MORE LOCAL ONES

General Principle Yes No Additional comments 1. Masterplanning X We support the Masterplanning approach and the phasing of site development within a lower overall level of housing than put forward in the Preferred Strategy, which Transportation work undertaken for Radyr and Morganstown Community Council and included in their submission at the end of last year has shown is unsustainable. This will be vital to ensure that the required infrastructure is in place before development begins and that sites are built out in a reasonable timescale rather than being left half completed.

Existing communities and community groups should be consulted on the draft masterplans for each strategic site as they emerge.

Once the LDP is in place, decisions will need to be made in line with it. This is vital as many decisions taken in the past have departed from policy without sufficient justification (eg decisions taken contrary to Conservation Appraisal policy).

2. Development X The principle of higher densities close to neighbourhood centres Density in the new strategic sites is supported but this principle should be merged with no: 6 to make room for a new Principle 2: Sustainable Infrastructure Funding and Delivery (see explanation in ‘Other Comments’ section below)

3. Sustainable X Connections between the sustainable transport in strategic sites Transport and existing communities must be planned from the outset. Corridors Land needs to be allocated (not just safeguarded) as sustainable transport corridors both within and beyond development sites.

A new rail link from Rhondda Cynon Taf via Creigiau into the City Centre needs to be provided, so Network Rail needs to be an integral part of the masterplanning team for all strategic sites in the north west sector of the City.

The Taff Trail provides a green link between communities and into the City Centre. It is an excellent example of a sustainable transport corridor but cannot be expected to cope with the full transport demand from the new Strategic Sites, so other cycle routes are required in the north west sector.

4. Sustainable X Additional public transport services must be provided in advance Travel Choices of the development of housing on all strategic sites otherwise the Plan will be unworkable.

5. Neighbourhood X Many previous S106 agreements have resulted in eventual loss of Centres land reserved for schools, community use or open space. Each 8

masterplan should include a requirement to actively develop sites for the identified use within the Plan period.

6. High Quality X An important element of Cardiff’s character is that each of its Sustainable Design existing neighbourhoods has its own identity. The strategic sites at Appropriate should be developed as a series of discrete ‘villages’ within a Densities and green web, to avoid urban sprawl and the tendency to a housing Distinctive mono-culture. Everything possible should be done to avoid further Character developments like Pontprennau and Radyr Sidings with their awkward road layouts and pattern-book housing.

The new development needs to be orientated to make access to footpaths, cycleways and public transport more convenient than car travel. Dedicated bus-only routes - such as are provided in Cardiff’s twin city, Nantes - should be incorporated into the layouts to link village clusters.

Masterplans should emulate the best of current sustainable housing designs and layouts in the UK and Europe, tailored to each local area.

All development should be orientated so that walking, cycling and public transport use is more convenient than private transport.

Shared surfaces should be provided as much as possible within the new housing areas to cut down on the amount of impermeable tarmac and thus run-off.

Every effort should be made to design legible layouts which will help to cut down on unnecessary signage and street furniture, thereby improving townscape and reducing future maintenance costs.

Heritage assets should be integrated as a positive element in new and existing areas to enhance place, value difference and retain identity.

7. Integration with X New developments should be planned as a series of discrete Neighbouring “villages” within a green web to provide distinctive places that Areas replicate the best aspects of the pattern of growth in the City.

8. Strategic green X The retention and extension of the existing web of green spaces open space is vital to the future of Cardiff. The Green Belt should cover not corridors only the area north of the M4 motorway but the river corridors, parks and green spaces.

Llandaff Fields and Pontcanna Fields comprises an exceptionally important open space which should be retained and enhanced by upgrading the current changing facilities, but these areas as well as the Taff and Ely river corridors need to be protected from commercial incursions and car parking now and in future.

9. Landscape, X The Green Belt should cover the area north of the M4 motorway 9 biodiversity and plus the 3 major river corridors, and the cross-linking mesh of historic features parks and green spaces.

The strategic sites should include footpaths and wildlife corridors linking to open countryside to maintain wildlife populations.

Full protection should be afforded to areas of historic, scientific and landscape value both within the strategic areas and elsewhere in Cardiff.

10. Resource X All decisions need to be taken in line with the City’s sustainability Efficiency aims so that they enhance Cardiff’s unique qualities and environment and to maximise the value from engagement of community groups.

Any other comments

A new Principle 2 is required: Sustainable Infrastructure Funding and Delivery

Our comments in relation to this new Principle as it applies to North West Cardiff, South of Creigiau and North of Junction 33 on the M4 are as follows:

Development of these 3 sites in combination would put enormous pressure on the adjacent settlements of Llandaff, Fairwater, Pentrebane, St Fagans, Radyr and Creigiau.

There will be pressure on all public and community facilities unless the whole masterplanning and delivery process is handled carefully and with sustained involvement of all stakeholders. This must be carried through this plan period and into the roll-forward of the next LDP ie to 2026 and beyond.

A Community Infrastructure Schedule should be drawn up in parallel with the LDP, listing all the infrastructure and expenditure necessary to cater for the development proposed in the Plan. It will provide the basis for charging an appropriate Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) on all new development.

4. ANY OTHER COMMENTS

The Llandaff Society would very much appreciate continuing involvement with the Masterplanning process for the North West Cardiff, South of Creigiau, and North of Junction 33 on the M4 Strategic sites.

The Society has a large and active membership, and has shown that it is able to act as an effective voice for local opinion.