Updated
Celebratory News – Cardiff East Park and Ride Planning Application Update
A huge thank you to the members of the community who took positive action to fight for their homes, businesses, children and future welfare, and for the enormous effort these last 10 days. After speaking with hundreds of you face to face, it was clear to us that you had not been properly informed by your local Councillors or the Planning Committee on this proposal.
The closing date for Planning Application 26/00109/HYB was yesterday (Wednesday 2nd September) and we closed out the consultation period with a MONUMENTAL 1,270 OBJECTIONS.
As of Monday 24th August 2026, the number of filed objections stood at just 447.
But, with the combined efforts of the local community in going door to door and speaking with residents and local business owners (sometimes in the pouring rain!); setting up stands at local Community Centres to inform local residents; the people who have donated banners, resources, their time and expertise in this matter; the helpful and informative social media content put out by concerned local residents, as well as the level of engagement the community members have managed to sustain in providing clear, direct and informative answers to all of your queries, we all managed to increase that number by OVER 800.
This is the true power of community spirit – Let it be known by Local Government that the people of Cardiff will be heard on this. This victory belongs to every single person who stood up and fought back against this.
The below letter has slowly been circulated to those local residents who have been in continuous communication with the both the local Ward Councillors and our elected MS’s for Caerdydd Ffynnon Taff throughout this process.
Here are the key facts you need to know from that letter:-
Cabinet Minister Owain Struthers has authorised a direction that Cardiff Council is NOT to grant planning permission for Application 26/00109/HYB, or for any kind of similar development on the same land, WITHOUT PRIOR AUTHORISATION FROM THE WELSH GOVERNMENT
We cannot stress enough what an immense victory that is for the people of Cardiff – We did this together.
On 24th August 2026 Welsh Ministers of the Senedd asked for the Planning Application to be “called in” to the Senedd – This request is currently under consideration, pending a decision by the Ministers as to whether it will be called in to the Senedd or not
This is a massive step in the right direction, and is a testament to how strong our objection case was for all the glaring public health, infrastructure, economic and environmental issues that were contained within Curtis Hall Ltd’s proposal, as well as Cardiff Council’s outright failure to adequately address or remedy any of those issues.
A special mention to the Lib Dem Councillors for Pentwyn, Dan and Joe, who drove forward the original call-in request to the Senedd - Thank you for standing up for the people you represent.
We are now working with our local MS’s for Caerdydd Ffynnon Taff to understand and determine the next steps, and will update everyone as soon as we have the confirmed information.
In the meantime, we are working to set up a Community Meeting for the end of September. This will be open to all members across the communities impacted and all local business owners. Ward Councillors and the Planning Committee will be invited to attend, so we can open the discussion to the people who deserve to be heard on this.
We’ll share all details in the local groups and across social media platforms once a location, date and time are set. We’ll also be back out and about on foot in the community to spread the word.
Thank you again to everyone, across all the local communities and further afield, who picked this up, rolled up their sleeves and united together to make a stand for their communities. We’re with you all the way.
Why are residents concerned?
The application proposes a large, continuously operated data-centre development
immediately next to existing homes.
The proposed data centre that will replace the hospital park and ride seeks capacity of up to 150MW operating continuously, would consume around 1,340,000 MWH of electricity per year — At that level, continuous operation would be equivalent to roughly 534,000 homes — more than three times the number of households in Cardiff.
The proposed data centre will be gas generated day and night for an expected minimum of five years before being connected to the grid.
The gas turbines will be located only 130 meters from vulnerable residential areas, which include a foster home for children and housing for elderly and disabled people.
Residents near the Colossus data centre in Mississippi (using the same Taurus 70 gas generators) report severe issues including: intense noise, poor air quality, sulfurous smells, coughing, mucus buildup, eye irritation, and breathing difficulties
Five-mile radius: environmental assessments and reporting note that smog-forming pollutants, nitrogen oxides, and formaldehyde impact communities across a broader five-mile zone.
Infrasound and low-frequency noise: The massive cooling fans and air conditioning units operate 24/7. Object based on the constant low-frequency hum that disrupts sleep and impacts mental health in nearby residential areas.
Cardiff Council’s brand new 100 home development - Maple Fields, which is only 150 metres from the proposed site, is not mentioned once in any of the environmental impact studies conducted by the developer.
Wales’ biggest hospital with very limited parking will lose its critical park and ride facility.
No suitable replacement has yet been found.
A freedom of information request revealed restrictions on vehicular use of the bridge connecting Llanrumney to the A48 -
Vehicular use of the bridge shall be restricted to public transport only between the hours of 07:00 and 10:00 and 15:00 and 19:00. No commuters can use the bridge during rush hour and this will be enforced by ANPR cameras.
01 — Maple Fields
Nearby homes need to be properly assessed
Maple Fields is a recently completed residential development approved under
application 18/02594/MJR. The submitted material does not consistently treat
Maple Fields as a sensitive receptor across the noise, air-quality, lighting,
visual, health and cumulative assessments.
The material states that Maple Fields is around 150m from the Temporary Energy
Centre, while Ball Lane is identified as the closest representative residential
receptor at around 250m.
02 — Noise & air quality
A 24-hour industrial operation beside homes
The proposal involves generators, cooling equipment, fans and transformers.
Residents are concerned about operational noise, tonal and low-frequency noise,
vibration and emissions.
Maple Fields should be explicitly assessed as a residential receptor.
The supplied objection material states that Maple Fields does not appear to
have been specifically modelled in the air-quality receptor assessment.
The application also contains differing conclusions regarding air quality,
including a reported maximum short-term NO₂ concentration of approximately
194 μg/m³ in the original Environmental Statement.
03 — Flood risk
Further flood-risk questions remain
The objection material identifies potential increases in flood depths in
surrounding areas, including approximately 0.4–0.7m over parts of a school
playing field, as well as increased overtopping at Ball Lane.
It also refers to outstanding concerns raised by Natural Resources Wales
regarding blockage scenarios, climate-change allowances and potential
off-site detriment.
04 — Lighting & construction
Construction and 24-hour lighting need proper assessment
Residents could experience security, emergency, road and bridge lighting,
glare and light entering bedroom and living-room windows and gardens.
The objection material also raises concerns that the submitted Construction
Environmental Management Plan is dated 2022 and relates to the former proposed
development rather than adequately demonstrating the impacts of the current
data-centre scheme.
05 — An uncertain environmental envelope
What gets built must stay within what has been assessed
The application seeks outline permission for up to 30,392.5m² of data-centre
development while important details remain uncertain, including cooling
technology, plant numbers, generator and transformer specifications, sound
levels, emission rates, lighting and detailed layouts.
06 — Loss of the Park & Ride
A major community facility would be lost or reduced
The proposal would result in the loss or substantial reduction of the existing
900-space Park & Ride facility.
The objection asks that any replacement facility is legally secured, funded,
consented and operational before the existing facility is lost.