The site that formerly housed the Ysgol Glan Morfa Welsh language primary school has sat empty for years, but Cardiff Council has plans to bring it back into use.
Ysgol Glan Morfa moved to a new facility on Lewis Road in 2018, and the old school buildings were demolished in 2022.
There were questions about what could be done with the former school site due to flood risk, but due to the £35m flood defence scheme currently underway along the Splott coastline, the land on Hinton Street can now be used to build new homes.
The site now forms part of the new Cardiff and Vale Housing Partnership; a “commitment with construction company Lovell to create exemplary homes and communities across the region to help tackle current housing pressures by delivering at least 2,260 homes over the next 10 years”.
“The former Glan Morfa site offers the opportunity to develop a high-quality residential development in a highly sought after area of Cardiff in close proximity to shops, services, employment and parks”.
But what does that mean?
Residents have been emailing local Councillor Ed Stubbs with their concerns about the beautiful trees that live on the land, as they’ve spied people with clipboards roaming around the site in recent weeks and feared that the trees may be sacrificed for ‘progress’.
And then there was the chopping down of the beautiful tree at the end of Hinton Street, bordering Moorland Rd, which was apparently ‘rotten’ (looked OK to me – and why couldn’t they bind it instead of just chopping it down? Or ask if the community was willing to fundraise for that if they couldn’t afford it?)
But, I am delighted to tell you that nearly all of the trees on the Glan Morfa site are safe and that the London Planes are protected by TPOs (Tree Protection Orders) and that any work to build on the site will be done sensitively and will protect the biodiversity that exists there.
In fact, Cardiff Council has been extremely proactive in approaching the community to ensure that voices are heard when it comes to what comes next on the Ysgol Glan Morfa site.
Yes, houses and flats will be built (Cardiff has a huge need for new housing) but talks are taking place to ensure that the beautiful corner at the end of Hinton meeting Moorland Road that houses all of the London plane trees and the plants, critters and creatures that live there is protected and accessible for the community.
What I particularly liek about the information released so far is this bit:
The development will provide new affordable homes designed to meet the Council’s high energy efficient standards available to rent for people on the Council House waiting list.
A key aspect of the scheme will be a multi-functional landscape. It will draw upon the site’s history as a garden and its surrounding green infrastructure to establish a strong character and a holistic relationship with the natural environment.
The development will place a strong emphasis on sustainability and community, integrating green infrastructure throughout the layout. We’re seeking an attractive modern development, making a positive contribution to the neighbourhood.
Consultations will be carried out, hopefully in the Old Splott Library on Singleton Road at the appropriate time, and people will be asked their opinions and if they want to be a bigger part of the project.
Watch this space for more information – Inksplott will let you know when the consultations are happening and how you can have a voice in the process. If you would like to have a more proactive role, email hello@inksplott.co.uk
If you would like to keep up with developments on the Hinton Street site, follow the council’s page here.