‘Conflict’ fears lead to review of business park plan

03 September 2009

Welsh ministers have decided to call in a planning application to develop a business park off the M4 near Cardiff.

In July, Cardiff CC resolved to grant planning permission for the 100,000m2 ‘international status business park, which would include a regional transport interchange and car parking. The application site is to the north of junction 33 of the M4, about 13km northwest of Cardiff city centre.

Ministers have now called in the application because of the potential for ‘substantive’ conflict with national policy on development in the open countryside, sustainable development, and its possible impact on national and local traffic networks.

Ministers also say there is no up-to-date development plan for the local planning authority’s area, and that preparation of a local development plan is at an early stage.

The issues will now be considered by an independent planning inspector. Local authorities in the South East Wales Transport Alliance (Sewta) have said the park needs a properly resourced travel plan.

Anthony O’Sullivan, Sewta’s chair of directorate, said the park could not be served by rail, a key driver of modal shift, and would adversely affect free flow of traffic, unless ‘challenging’ modal-shift targets were achieved.

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