Jo Stevens MP Objects to Cardiff Met Extension – 25 August 2016
Cardiff Metropolitan University and Asbri Planning have submitted an application to add additional buildings, including 518 residential units, to their Cyncoed campus.
Many local residents are extremely concerned about these plans and the effect they may have on the local area. Many residents have already been in touch with me to share their concerns.
I have written to Cardiff Council’s planning department in opposition to the plans. My reasons for objection are as follows:
- Local Parking Issues
The application includes provision of 518 properties with no additional car parking. Residents in both Cyncoed and Llanedeyrn are already faced with problems due to students and visitors to Cardiff Met parking in residential areas.
Students unwilling to pay the parking charges on campus frequently park in residential areas on both sides of the campus, which leads to not only frustration but access problems in these areas, including some streets where goods and emergency vehicles are unable to gain access.
Additional cars without additional parking will only serve to further exacerbate these problems on both sides of the campus.
- Building Height and Noise Issues
The planned residential building is significantly higher than other buildings on the campus, at seven storeys. Several of my constituents from the Penylan area have contacted me with concerns about this. The additional height will make it more likely that noise will travel, causing loss of amenity to these residents whose property borders the southern edge of the campus.
Noise problems have been raised by residents in relation to the campus in its current form, and they are extremely concerned about residential units of this height and the inevitable increase in noise, particularly late at night, that these could cause.
- Woodlands
I am also concerned about the knock-on effect this development will have on the protected woodlands in the local area. This protected woodland is home to a vast amount of wildlife.
In addition to the above, I have received many letters from local residents to raise concerns about the process of consultation conducted by Cardiff Met and Asbri Planning.
Residents feel that a token consultation process led to Cardiff Met and Asbri Planning ignoring the concerns of residents and taking no steps to modify their plans accordingly.
I have been working closely with Cardiff Met and other local stakeholders on the issues currently being raised about the campus by local residents – most significantly the parking problems – and this work has begun to see results. It would be most disappointing to see this progress reversed by additional development that doesn’t take into account the issues.
If you wish to comment on the plans, you can do so on the council’s website: Go to http://planning.cardiff.gov.uk/online-applications and search for reference number 16/01760/MJR.
Or alternatively you can submit a written objection by post to:
Development Control
Room 201
County Hall
Atlantic Wharf
Cardiff
CF10 4UW
Make sure you include the application reference number: 16/01760/MJR
I have had several productive discussions with the university and local stakeholders regarding the existing problems in the area, and will continue to work with the community to resolve the issues.
I am always pleased to hear from constituents with any local issues. If you have any particular concerns about this development, or any other issues I can help with, please get in touch:
Jo Stevens MP
116 Albany Road
Cardiff
CF24 3RU
jo.stevens.mp@parliament.uk
02921 329736
@JoStevensLabour
Facebook.com/JoStevensLabour
http://www.jostevens.co.uk/jo_stevens_mp_objects_to_cardiff_met_extension
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