The largest and most exciting estate redevelopment proposal in Cardiff Council’s new build housing programme is set to take a major step forward, signalling the creation of up to 400 new homes in Grangetown.
The proposed regeneration of the Channel View estate represents an investment of around £60m in this part of the city and will deliver a better connected, more attractive place to live for existing and new residents.
The redevelopment masterplan details striking modern architecture for the low-carbon, highly energy-efficient homes on the estate, improved access to public transport, local amenities and public open spaces, as well as the potential for a pedestrian and cycle connection from The Marl to Hamadryad Park over the river Taff.
Around 360 new homes, a mixture of privately owned and Council homes, will replace the 180 existing properties on the estate including the council-owned 13 storey tower block. At least 60% of the new homes would be available for rent from the Council, or for sale as part of its Assisted Home Ownership scheme.
Improvements to the existing park (The Marl) are proposed as well as additional large green spaces within the new development. A small section of the lower Marl would be included in the scheme with over 30,000m2 of existing open space improved.
Cabinet will consider giving the green light for Phase 1 of the scheme to progress at its next meeting on Thursday, November 19, which would include the submission of a planning application for the redevelopment masterplan and the detailed planning application for the first phase.
Phase 1 will provide around 78, one and two bedroom flats for older people across two blocks as a direct replacement for the existing tower block, and would be located in a landmark setting next to the park and river. The development would be one of the Council’s ‘Community Living’ schemes providing a range of communal facilities for older people living in the blocks and within the wider community.
Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Lynda Thorne, said: “The Channel View scheme is a fantastic opportunity for us to not only address a number of issues that have arisen on the estate over recent years but to breathe new life into the wider area by creating the type of good quality homes and attractive neighbourhoods we want to see in a modern city.
“We have been speaking to existing residents for a number of years and indeed, there is consultation currently ongoing with the Grangetown community to hear their views about our vision and fully involve people who work and live in the area in our plans. There has been a high level of support for the proposals and I’m excited for the scheme to progress to the next stages.
“It’s been one of our key aims to deliver the redevelopment in phases so that the existing residents are able to remain living on the estate transferring from their existing home into a new property once built.”
The Channel View scheme is an important part of the Council’s wider housing development programme that is seeking to deliver 1,000 new council homes by 2022 and up to 2,700 new council homes in the longer term.
Through a variety of different delivery routes including the Cardiff Living programme with developer Wates Residential, package deals, its own additional build programme and the purchase of property from the open market, the Council has delivered 381 new homes as of September 2020.
A further 909 new council homes are currently going through the development process while the programme has the capability of delivering a further 1,650 new homes through its pipeline schemes, subject to planning and funding.
Cllr Thorne added: “”Our aspirations to build new homes in volume and at pace directly complements the Welsh Government’s target of delivering new affordable homes throughout Wales at pace and scale. We are making very good progress to increase the amount of good quality, affordable homes in the city to meet the high level of demand.”
On November 19, Cabinet is also recommended to review and approve the procurement plan for the council’s new build housing programme, giving authority to undertake tender exercises for contractors for those schemes identified over £5million in value
