Residents in Radyr are opposing plans to build thirty six more homes on the Sidings Estate.
Taff Housing have applied for planning permission to build the affordable homes on land at De Clare Drive. There are already more than four hundred homes on the site.
Conservative Councillor for Radyr and Morganstown Rod McKerlich has opposed the plan. He says: “It is completely unreasonable to put thirty-six housing units onto a three quarters of an acre plot and this will have knock on effects in that it will add to the congestion and bad parking which is already prevalent in that area. The site is very congested, particularly at weekends. There is scope for concern as to what would happen if emergency vehicles had to get to a fire.”
Cllr McKerlich says the development will also put a strain on local facilities such as GP surgeries and schools. “The available school places in the catchment area of Radyr and Morganstown are barely sufficient to meet existing demand,” he says. “There are also concerns that the medical centre is overloaded. It already has a comparatively high level of patients per doctor and there is doubt as to whether it can cope with more housing.”
One resident of the Sidings Estate, who did not want to be named, says traffic is also a concern. She says: “When we bought this house it was a quieter estate. Now with the extra houses they’ve built there’s a lot more traffic. The traffic between 7.30 and 9.30 is extremely busy and quite dangerous, and in the evening it’s worse.”
In a statement Taff Housing say: “Taff are a not for profit housing association that manages and develops affordable homes for individuals and families throughout Cardiff. We take applicants from Cardiff’s Council’s waiting list. Cardiff house prices and rent levels are very high and for many people homes are not affordable. It is anticipated that when/if built, our Radyr scheme will provide affordable homes for people who cannot afford to rent or buy from the private sector. We design our homes to a high standard. Welsh Government requires us to develop homes that meet their design specification. Our homes can be observed throughout Cardiff e.g Clos Parc Morgannwg near the Cardiff City Ground. We take our landlord responsibilities very seriously.”
