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The proposed Cardiff International Business Park is within one of eight Enterprise Zones designated by Welsh Government as part of its National Plan. Strategically located to the east of Cardiff Airport, the proposed development is set to attract global employers and investment into Wales by providing first class business infrastructure.
The current proposals for the Business Park include high quality and sustainable office accommodation, specialist education and training facilities, a hotel, and better transport links. The development would also deliver a major 48-hectare extension to Porthkerry Country Park, opening the land for public use and improving biodiversityon the site. Once built, the Cardiff International Business Park will serve as a gateway for business and leisure. It will have the potential capacity to accommodate over 4,375jobs and the potential to support £94m in wages each year.
The Government’s national and the local development plan strategy recognises the importance of Cardiff International Airport to the future prosperity of Wales and the Vale of Glamorgan, being a strategically located site that is intended to stimulate inward and indigenous investment and economic growth.
“Cardiff Airport is an essential part of Wales’ strategic transport infrastructure. It is an international gateway connecting Wales to the world and is an important driver within the Welsh economy. Cardiff Airport is located within the Cardiff Airport and Bro Tathan Enterprise Zone which offers opportunities for investment in the site and surrounding areas".
WIDE RANGING BENEFITS
Cardiff International Business Park has a strategic role to play in delivering economic, social and environmental benefits, including:
’Future Wales’ provides a strategic direction for all scales of planning and sets out policies and key issues to be considered in the planning decision making process, especially in relation to Cardiff International Airport and the Enterprise Zone. This development sits next to the runway and that is why it has strategic economic importance, and is rightly allocated in the local development plan.”
Our Shared Vision
The plans for Cardiff International Business Park endorse and actively promote a number of key visions and policies set out by Welsh Government.
Legal & General is creating the opportunity for 4,375 jobs and investment of £525 million for the future of the Welsh economy next to Cardiff International Airport. This investment in business infrastructure by Legal & General enhances the Welsh Government’s current major investment in Cardiff International Airport which is a strategic gateway to facilitate international connectivity.
Access the full Future Wales: The National Plan 2040 by clicking the image…
This is a strategic policy document that aims to shape the transport system in Wales over the next 20 years.
The aviation ‘mini-plan’ outlines Welsh Government priorities. Stating that over the next five years, Welsh Government will:
- develop Cardiff Airport to enable Welsh-based passengers to fly from closer to home
- work with the UK Government and the Jet Zero initiative, as well as with Cardiff Airport, to reduce the environmental impacts of aviation
- support Cardiff Airport to recover from the impact of COVID-19 on the business and wider industry
- engage with UK airports and other devolved administrations to improve regional connectivity to Wales as part of the regional planning process
- continue to work with the UK Government on levelling up UK-wide aviation policy specifically for Wales, including continuing the pursuit of devolution of Air Passenger Duty (APD) to Wales and via the introduction of new Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services
- continue to explore opportunities to better connect Cardiff and Wales with the rest of the UK and Europe.
Cardiff International Business Park has worked and will continue to work with the Vale of Glamorgan Council in recognition of the world leading Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 .
The Well-being of Future Generations Act (Wales) 2015 places a duty on the Council to take reasonable steps in exercising its functions to meet its sustainable development (or well being) objectives. The Council and the Cardiff International Business Park takes seriously consideration the Council’s duty and the “sustainable development principle”, set out in the 2015 Act. It was noted in reaching the original planning recommendations, the Council has sought to ensure that the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Cardiff International Business Park will always work within the “sustainable development principles” set by Welsh Government and the Local Council.
- Cardiff Airport is accessible and staff have the skills and training to ensure that everyone feels welcome and is supported where appropriate
- There are fewer greenhouse gas emissions from Wales based aviation
- Cardiff Airport has a robust decarbonisation strategy, delivering measures such as onsite generation, energy exporting and carbon neutral buildings Economy and places
- Communities across Wales, including rural communities, benefit from better, safer local and international connectivity
- Good connectivity means that businesses are confident about relocating to Wales and staying in Wales, whilst Welsh businesses are reaching new markets
- The aviation supply chain and general aviation deliver benefits to economically disadvantaged areas that have traditionally suffered from lack of quality employment
- Wales is a centre for skills in aircraft maintenance and engineering, prominent in the national and international delivery of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services
- We have helped grow international visitors to Wales and business passengers safeguarding jobs in the visitor economy across Wales Culture and the Welsh language
- More international visitors will discover and enjoy our rich cultural heritage and language
- More Welsh speakers will be able to travel using the Welsh language.
“The Enterprise Zone offers a wide range of development sites and business accommodation, providing opportunities for the development of bespoke facilities or investment in existing accommodation.”
Environment & Biodiversity
Cardiff International Business Park will enhance biodiversity and fully respect the environment.
Legal & General will transfer approximately 48 hectares of land to the Vale of Glamorgan Council to extend the Porthkerry Country Park, providing significant biodiversity net gain as well as considerably expanding public accessibility to the countryside. It is anticipated that the extension will result in increased visitor numbers to Porthkerry Country Park.
Legal & General will be making financial contributions of over £500,000 towards the establishment and maintenance of the park environment.
Other enhancements include:
– A sustainable urban drainage strategy
– In addition to the country park, within the business park there is a total of 10.3ha. of green space
– Nearly two miles (3.01 km) of new hedgerows, which is the length of 30 football pitches. Plus 300m of hedgerows to be restored through additional planting
– Nearly 4 acres (1.5 hectares) of hazel dominated scrub planting
– Nearly 2.5 acres (1 hectare) of scrub planting
– Over 6 acres (2.5 hectares) of new broadleaved woodland planting
– The total area of planting is greater than the rugby pitches at six international rugby stadiums
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Cardiff International Business Park will bring with it a number of wide-ranging, long-term benefits to the local community.
Questions
The Cardiff International Business Park site is 45-hectares adjoining Cardiff International Airport and it has been planned for a number of years as a designated employment site and enterprise zone.
The planning and development of Cardiff International Business Park is led by Legal & General (Strategic Land ) Limited.
Legal & General is and has been a major employer in Wales and set roots in Wales in 1996 . Legal & General has been committed to Wales as a progressive investor and substantial employer for many years. This is a project which will increase economic growth and we will continue to pursue the planning viability sensitively with existing stakeholders.
A key part of the project is the net gain in biodiversity for the land . Legal & General will transfer approximately 48 hectares of land to the Vale of Glamorgan Council to extend the Porthkerry Country Park, providing significant biodiversity net gain as well as considerably expanding public accessibility to the countryside. It is anticipated that the extension will result in increased visitor numbers to Porthkerry Country Park.
Legal & General will be making financial contributions of over £500,000 towards the establishment and maintenance of the park environment. The total management costs would come to a figure of £425,000. The costs associated with the delivery and upkeep, including on-going hedgerow and woodland management, land maintenance and repairs, is equivalent to £20,000 per annum over a period of 20 years. In addition, the Ash trees in the woodland suffer from Ash dieback and need to be managed at an additional commuted sum equivalent to £5,000 per annum for a period of 5 years. The initial costs relating to works required for the implementation of new footpaths, trails, footbridges, together with associated signage and furniture has been estimated at £75,000.
The site was allocated 2017 in the Local Development Plan for employment and public open space, with the economic benefits, together with public amenity and nature conservation weighing in favour of the Cardiff International Business Park proposals. As with all local development plans there was a great deal of consultation and the Vale of Glamorgan Council adopted the Enterprise Park in its future employment plans.
The Wales’s national development plan ‘Future Wales: The National Plan 2040’ states that “Cardiff Airport and the Enterprise Zone is an essential part of Wales’s strategic transport infrastructure. It is an international gateway connecting Wales to the world and is an important driver within the Welsh economy.” It continues: “The Enterprise Zone offers a wide range of development sites and business accommodation, providing opportunities for the development of bespoke facilities or investment in existing accommodation.”
In view of this, and that the extent of good quality agricultural land on the site is very limited, the impact is considered acceptable and accords with Policy of the local council and the plans for Cardiff International Business Park were originally approved by the Vale of Glamorgan Council Planning Committee.
The majority of the site is currently used in farming and the impact of the development was considered by the Vale of Glamorgan Council and fully recognised by the Cardiff International Business Park proposals. Accordingly land has been assessed properly by Environmental Impact Studies. In view of the significant economic and community benefits associated with Cardiff International Business Park and its allocation within the approved Local Development Plan, the Council considered that the proposals to develop Cardiff International Business Park acceptable. It sits comfortably within planning guidance and policy adopted nationally by Welsh Government for economic development and the creation of jobs and locally in the proper use of land for investment.
The site known as Model Farm but has been identified for alternative economic use and for employment use in the adopted Council Local Development Plan in 2017.
Arable fields dominate the higher lying, more exposed and predominantly flat areas, while grazing and strips of woodland dominate the sheltered slopes and valleys. The field system consists of moderately sized fields enclosed by hedgerows of varying height and density. It is stated within the Environmental Statement that the farm is currently operating as a going concern and is anticipated to support 4 employees in the agriculture sector.
There are areas, such as the woodland, which are not actively farmed.The farmland is of moderate quality some which is good and some poor.
No new planning application has been made, Legal & General are awaiting a response from Welsh Government and the Vale of Glamorgan Council as to determination of the planning application in July 2021.
Legal & General has a strong track record of investment in Wales. In 2021, to celebrate 25 years in Cardiff, Legal & General’s announced that, in 2023, Legal & General’s will move nearly 2,000 Cardiff employees to the brand new £140 million Interchange building in Central Square, Cardiff. In doing so, Legal & General is committing to Cardiff for another 25 years, and beyond.
Legal & General’s investment into the Interchange is part of £450 million of investment to regenerate Central Square. This project is bringing up to 13,000 jobs and will create £1.1 billion of gross value added, giving Cardiff an even brighter future. Legal & General is proud to be supporting both the regeneration of Cardiff Centre and the delivery of the business park at Cardiff International Airport.
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