Major step for Cardiff’s multi million pound urban village

The Welsh Assembly Government has appointed property advisor Savills to sell around 60 acres of land for the development of a multi million pound regeneration scheme in Cardiff.

The Ely Bridge site, between Ely and Canton, is set to become one of the biggest brownfield redevelopments in Wales and will set new standards in sustainable development.

Resolution to grant outline planning permission, subject to legal agreement, has already been granted for the creation of a new neighbourhood on the former Arjo Wiggins Paper Mill. It has the capacity to create around 900 new homes, several hundred jobs, a range of community facilities and public open space.

Andrew Cox from Savills development team, said: “A site of this size and importance makes this a really exciting opportunity for developers to create a new community. It lies three miles to the west of Cardiff and is only around three miles away from the city centre, making it an ideal location for a mixed-use scheme of this type.

“The Welsh Assembly Government will be looking for one development partner to deliver this site in phases using the very best in innovative sustainable development.”

Savills will be releasing the site to the market in early 2008, with a view to receive Expressions of Interest in February. A shortlist will then be drawn up in early summer 2008.

The vision for Ely Bridge is to create a sustainable community where homes are within walking distance of local facilities and reduced energy demand is supplied from renewable sources, locally if possible. A key part of the proposals includes ideas for sustainable transport such as new rail, cycle, pedestrian and bus links.

Also included in the plans are a range of live-work units – a modern interpretation of the studio combining living accommodation with working space to enable people to work at home in efficient, purpose-designed facilities.

The development is set to build on the ambitions of the Welsh Government to become one of the most sustainable countries in the world.