£230m Barry waterfront regeneration development gets planning approval
Plans for a £230m regeneration of Barry Waterfront have been approved by the Vale of Glamorgan council.
The plans include a new £5m link road from Barry town centre to Barry Island, a new primary school, hotel, supermarket and community facility, a waterfront district centre featuring cafés and restaurants, as well as up to 2,000 new homes, comprising a mix of private and affordable housing.
The scheme, known as The Quays, aims to create a sustainable mixed-use community focused around the water, with new parks and children’s play areas, waterfront promenades and public spaces to help connect the existing communities of Barry Island and Barry town.
Planning committee members visited the site before making their decision at a bespoke meeting set aside to discuss the development plans, which mark the final phase in the large-scale regeneration of the area.
Members voted unanimously to approve the plans, which were put forward by a Consortium of developers made up of Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd, Persimmon Homes and BDW Trading (Barratt South Wales).
A Section 106 agreement will now be drawn up, as well as a detailed phasing plan for the development before site preparation work can begin.
Speaking on behalf of the Consortium, Richard Keogh, said: “The Barry Waterfront Consortium is pleased that the huge benefits of this important scheme, both for Barry and the wider region, have been recognised in the planning committee’s unanimous resolution to grant planning permission, subject to the signing of the Section 106 agreement.
“The Quays, together with the proposed link road to Barry Island, is a large and complex regeneration project that has met significant challenges along the way, but this decision represents an important milestone. However, there is still much to be done and the Consortium will continue its work with the Council to reach the necessary agreements that will allow us to move to the next stage, which involves securing the necessary funding to deliver the scheme.”
According to the most recent economic impact study carried out by Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners, the development will pump an extra £150m into the economy over a 20 year period. The construction time on the project will also create 1,700 person-years of full-time employment, while the finished development will provide 870 new jobs (710 full-time equivalent) and 175 (140 FTE) spin-off jobs from companies and services on the regenerated waterfront. It would also lead to the creation of a further 350 indirect jobs (285 FTE) across the south-east Wales region as a whole.
Mr Keogh continues: “The benefits of the scheme are many and varied and will reach far beyond the immediate area. The investment that will go into new infrastructure, including the Barry Island link road, pedestrian and cycle links, public open space, affordable housing, a new school and community facilities will make a huge difference to the people of the town. Add to this the significant job creation, economic benefits and the wider regeneration opportunity that will be created by a scheme. It will send out a clear and positive message to visitors, employers and potential investors who will be encouraged to come and take a closer look.
“The focus now moves to the Section 106 agreement and we would hope to reach a conclusion on this within the next two to three months. Outside this agreement, we will also need to agree a detailed phasing plan and strategies for issues including public realm, public art and biodiversity. As long as the full application for the link road is allowed to proceed without a separate environmental impact assessment, the site preparation works could be underway before the end of the year.
“The site does present significant construction challenges, including some major decontamination and flood prevention measures, which means that it could take up to two years to complete the full remediation works. However, these works would also be phased which would mean that the first residential and commercial buildings could be completed by the end of 2013.”
Rob Thomas, the council’s head of planning and transportation, said: “The redevelopment of the 43-hectare brownfield site is critical to the continuing efforts of the Vale of Glamorgan Council in regenerating Barry.
“The scheme will breathe new life into this part of Barry as a consequence of this multi-million pound investment with new jobs being available throughout the construction phase and the provision of jobs into the future as a consequence of the proposals for retailing, cafés, bars, restaurants and other services.”
Councillor, Tony Hampton, added: “This will do Barry the world of good and put the town back on the map.”
Planning committee chairman, Jeff James, said: “The days when we look out on a derelict former dockland site now seem a very long way away.”