Plans revealed for 2,000 new homes in city
A DEVELOPER has unveiled a Sweden-inspired plan for 2,000 homes described as the best opportunity to regenerate Cardiff’s rundown Dumballs Road area in a generation.
Developer Vastint has a proposal for homes and commercial units around garden squares inspired by parts of the Swedish city of Malmo.
It follows several failed proposals to regenerate the area south of the city’s train station over the past 30 years.
The total number of homes and office units and retails spaces in the masterplan is yet to be fully decided – but the developer has told a council committee a significant affordable housing would be a key part of the development.
Vastint is negotiating with businesses in the area to help them to relocate, and with remaining landowners in the site.
Andrew Cobden, managing director of Vastint, told Cardiff council’s economy and culture scrutiny committee on Thursday that work on the site could begin in late 2021 - and may take around eight years to develop.
Speaking after the meeting, he said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Cardiff to see a big change in the Bay quarter and the city centre. It really does improve a art of the city that has needed to see change for 20 to 30 years.
“This is the opportunity. The next 10 years will see great change coming forward.”
A masterplan for the development shown to councillors envisages apartment blocks between six and eight storeys high centered around semi-private garden square areas – in a layout inspired by Malmo’s Western Harbour.
A pedestrian and cycle bridge across the River Taff linking the development to Grangetown is also being planned.
Cycle lanes and public walkways are also being proposed.
Businesses such as Direct Storage Ltd, Snow White Laundry, A&T Waste and Biffa are in talks with Vastint to help with relocation – but they have been told they won’t have to move for at least the next 12 months.
The developer is also negotiating with landowners in the site such as Rightacres and Cardiff and Vale College in an effort to bring the site fully under its control.
Councillor Russell Goodway, cabinet member for investment and development, told the committee the council is prepared to use compulsory purchase orders on the land if necessary.
He said: “It’s taken 20-plus years to get to this point. This is not the first time we have tried to assemble the land at Dumballs Road.
“We have been thwarted on many occasions, but this is probably the best opportunity we have had to assemble that land.
“It may be necessary to rely on our powers to get it over the line. I really hope landowners are sensible and deal with this through private treaty. If not we might need to make it clear there’s a determination to get it delivered.
“To be able to offer people the opportunity to have affordable and social housing in the city centre has to be a good thing.”
A planning application is expected to be submitted in the coming months.