Community set on transforming derelict land
A DERELICT plot of city land is being brought back into public use thanks to the tireless efforts of a community group and local people.
The former park and children’s playground in Splott is returning to community use after Cardiff Council granted non-profit organisation Green Squirrel a 20-year lease to develop the site in partnership with local residents.
Green Squirrel has been working with the community to gain permission to use the land, which has been cleared for potential development since 2015.
Just a short walk away from Splott Road and Clifton Street, the park’s gates closed more than 10 years ago following problems with anti-social behaviour.
Now residents have created a vision for a vibrant space for learning, play, food growing, micro businesses and community events.
This vision and plenty of hard work has culminated in securing a long lease to bring these plans to life.
In celebration, a new name for the site “Railway Gardens” was chosen by a local vote.
Local resident Bren Hardiman is involved with Railway Gardens through the project’s advisory board.
Bren said: “Seeing the land change from a neglected green space, to a workspace for the railway electrification and now to brownfield land that will host an exciting and much needed community hub has been a long journey.
“I am tremendously excited that work can soon begin in finally turning this area into a useful and much needed community space for all generations to enjoy.”
An innovative feature of the site will be its eight affordable and colourful business pods, crafted from recycled shipping containers by the company behind Cardiff’s popular studio sites, The Boneyard and The Bridge Studios.
With sustainability at the heart of the project, large shipping containers and reclaimed materials will also be used to build a unique community hub for training, work spaces, social events, and local activities.
Space for play and outdoor events, beehives, wildlife and climate-friendly planting, and a small community allotment aims to transform this derelict site into a green urban oasis.
Rebecca Clark, from Green Squirrel, said: “Signing the lease on the land is a huge milestone.
“Seeing the plans for the site develop on paper has been amazing, but for nearly three years we’ve been peering through the locked gates. We’re ready to get the site open, get to work, and see that space come to life – this is where things get really exciting.”
When it comes to using the space, there’s no shortage of ideas from the community, with residents eager to set up skills shares, supper clubs, language cafes, and even outdoor cinema events.
“Sustainable living is at the heart of our work,” said Green Squirrel’s Hannah Garcia. “So we’ll be using the space to offer practical, hands-on learning that helps everyone waste less and make low carbon choices.
“Communities deserve a place to develop skills and their own local responses to challenges such as Covid-19 and the climate emergency.”
In a further boost to the project, in June, Cardiff council granted planning permission for the community-led scheme.
Funding from the Co-Operative Foundation and the Welsh Government has enabled the project to progress from its early stages.
This funding has been accompanied by invaluable advice and guidance from Social Farms & Gardens.
The community now moves onto its next challenge of bringing in enough funding to see the project meet its potential.
Noreen Blanluet, Railway Gardens board member, said: “It’s really exciting to be able very soon to get onto the land, it feels like we are one big step closer to the vision. It’s tangible now. The community involvement has been fantastic and it will be great to be able to work with everyone on the next steps.”