Cardiff councillors are pressing the Welsh Government for a swift decision on the Cardiff Parkway train station and business park plans
Cardiff: The Welsh Government is being pushed to make a call on the new train station and business park in Cardiff soon. The Cardiff Parkway project was given the green light by Cardiff Council back in April 2022.
But then the Welsh Government stepped in to have the final say, which is pretty standard for big developments. Now, both Labour and Conservative councillors are on the same page, urging the government to hurry up and decide before the next council meeting on January 30, 2025.
At a recent council meeting, Labour councillor Bernie Bowen-Thomson highlighted how this development could create thousands of jobs in east Cardiff. She emphasized, “Cardiff Parkway needs to happen and it needs to happen soon.”
A spokesperson for the Welsh Government mentioned that they need to look at all the latest evidence before making a decision. They also noted that they’re working to speed up infrastructure planning decisions, so a verdict on Cardiff Parkway should come soon.
The plans have already been reviewed at two hearings by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales, one in July 2023 and another in January 2024. However, some campaigners are worried about how this development might affect local biodiversity, especially since it’s near a site of special scientific interest.
At the second hearing, Dr. Diana Callaghan from Friends of the Gwent Levels raised concerns about the need for office space in that area. Julia Barrell from Cardiff Civic Society agreed that while a train station would be great, the business park might not be necessary, especially on a site that’s important for wildlife.
Cardiff Parkway Developments Ltd has suggested some compensation land to make up for any habitat loss if the project goes ahead. The Welsh Government had initially aimed for a decision by April 26, 2024, but with a new First Minister in place, things have shifted a bit.
Eluned Morgan, the new First Minister, confirmed she would be the one making the final call on this project. At the last council meeting of the year, former Conservative leader Cllr Adrian Robson accused the Welsh Government of dragging its feet, saying, “This failure to allow Parkway to progress is now on her.”
Cllr Chris Lay, a Labour councillor, expressed frustration, saying it’s unfair that the station hasn’t been developed yet. He pointed out that the community deserves better transport and business opportunities.
Rolls-Royce has shown interest in setting up a hub at the site, which could be a big win for the area. Another Trowbridge councillor, Cllr Michael Michael, called the case for Cardiff Parkway “overwhelming” and said it should have been done ages ago.
He welcomed the First Minister’s involvement but suggested that the call-in process needs to be streamlined, not just the planning process. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrats supported the motion for a decision but wanted to improve bus transport first, which didn’t pass.
However, the Conservatives’ amendment to push for a decision by January 2025 was approved. A Welsh Government spokesperson reiterated that the First Minister will make the final decision, emphasizing the need for thorough consideration of all evidence before setting any timelines.
They assured that the government is actively working to speed up the decision-making process, so we can expect a decision soon.
