Author: Rhys Gregory

Plans for a new Canal Quarter in the heart of Cardiff city centre are well underway with enabling works on site for the Churchill Way development now complete. Since work began in early February, the central reservation on Churchill Way has been removed, the tarmac dug up, with the service and utilities that were underneath the road now diverted. Site hoardings are now in place so work can begin to bring back the dock feeder canal. The scheme, which is part of a wider masterplan to create a new vibrant Canal Quarter in the east of the city, is scheduled…

The creation of a statue to Cardiff Bay’s legendary rugby ‘codebreakers’, who left a lasting legacy on the world of rugby league, has taken a major step forward in its fundraising campaign. The statue, which will honour three of the leading players who controversially moved from amateur rugby union careers to star in England’s professional rugby league teams, was the subject of a fundraising campaign led by South Wales businessman Sir Stanley Thomas OBE. Now, as it approaches its target, the fundraising committee has commissioned sculptor Steve Winterburn to create the monument to the sporting heroes, represented by Billy Boston,…

RCT Council has now received planning consent to replace existing buildings at Llanilltud Faerdref Primary, Pontyclun Primary and Penygawsi Primary with brand new, state-of-the-art school facilities for staff and pupils. The projects were considered across three separate officer reports to the Planning and Development Committee on Thursday, March 10. Members of the committee decided to grant full planning permission for each application, agreeing with officers’ recommendations which were included in the reports. The Committee also agreed upon an additional condition for each – for the Council to design, approve and implement local highway improvements, as informed by Safer Routes in…

An avenue of 80 trees has been planted at Tredegar Park as part of Newport City Council’s Queen’s Jubilee Green Canopy activities. Lining the new and improved active travel route within the park, a mixture of hornbeams and fastigiate lime trees will add to the aesthetic of the cycle and footpath, enhance the park and contribute to the council’s plans under the carbon reduction strategy. Additional hornbeams have also been planted at other locations in the park to improve the general tree cover. Councillor Jane Mudd, leader of the council was joined by other members of the council’s Cabinet as…

Construction work is now underway on a brand-new Garden Village inspired development on the former council office site in Pontllanfraith. Partnership developer Lovell, along with partners Pobl Group and Caerphilly County Borough Council, marked the occasion with a breaking-ground ceremony on the site, which will be called Chartist Garden Village. Chartist Garden Village is a design and build scheme being delivered by Lovell, after it was awarded the contract earlier this year. The development will consist of 123 properties, including 40 one, two, three and four-bedroom homes for open market sale, 40 affordable shared ownership homes and 43 affordable homes…

Caerphilly Council has successfully appointed globally renowned Grimshaw Architects to design a landmark interchange in the heart of Caerphilly town centre as part of significant regeneration plans, supported by Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme. Working in partnership with Welsh Government, Transport for Wales and the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) and with support from the Design Commission for Wales we are developing and expanding the public transport network through the South Wales Metro and the electrification of the Core Valley Lines. A new, modern and fit for purpose interchange in Caerphilly is set to serve in excess of 1 million passengers, annually.…

Six new flats have been approved for development on Blackwood High Street, Caerphilly. Office space above ASA fashions and New Mode have been given the go ahead for renovation, transforming the vacant space into six new flats. The building at 195 – 197 High Street, Blackwood benefited from a funding boost of £239,416 from the Welsh Government Targeted Regeneration Investment (TRI) programme. The TRI funding programme aims to support regeneration projects that promote economic regeneration – creating jobs, enhancing skills and employability, and creating the right environment for businesses to grow and thrive. The funding is aimed at bringing vacant…

The war in Ukraine and co-operation across Europe will be discussed by European leaders, when the First Minister addresses the EU Committee of the Regions. The talks, held on Friday at the Senedd, in Cardiff Bay, will see leaders of the EU’s assembly of local and regional representatives meet their UK counterparts. The committee will include leaders from across the EU, including from Brittany, Flanders, Galicia and Bremen. During his speech to the committee, the First Minister will talk about Wales as a Nation of Sanctuary and the warm welcome Ukrainian refugees will receive in Wales. Mark Drakeford will also…

Charities supporting people through bereavement will benefit from £3m in funding over the next three years the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Lynne Neagle has announced today. Sadly bereavement is something that will touch all our lives and charities and third sector organisation across Wales provide vital support. In October last year the Deputy Minister outlined the National Framework for the Delivery of Bereavement Care in Wales, which was underpinned by a £1m per annum support grant for charities and support groups to apply for. 21 charities will receive funding via the grant over the next three years.…

The Welsh Government will invest over £4m over the next year to support Welsh businesses find new export opportunities in global markets, Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, announced today. Speaking at the Explore Export Wales conference in Cardiff, the Minister is today unveiling an ambitious programme of export support, including a series of international trade missions, available over the next year to support Welsh businesses find new opportunities in markets globally, helping to secure and create new jobs here in Wales. According to the most recent data, Welsh firms exported £14.3 billion worth of goods in the year ending September 2021.…