A NEW footpath linking a quiet cul-de-sac to a planned social housing “ghetto” in Cardiff has sparked safety fears.

A house will be knocked down to make way for the footpath, which will create access to 45 planned new homes on former farmland in the north-east of the city.

Residents and councillors claimed the footpath, linking Ty Draw Road with Clos Nant Glaswg, could increase crime and “put the safety of the Pontprennau community at risk.”

Despite concerns, United Welsh housing association now has planning permission to build the 45 homes and knock down a house on the cul-de-sac Clos Nant Glaswg to replace it with the footpath. Six councillors on the planning committee voted in favour of granting permission for the scheme, with two voting against and two abstaining.

The 45 social rented homes will comprise 22 flats and 23 houses and will sit inside Strategic Site F, former farmland between Lisvane and Pontprennau earmarked for 4,500 new homes. Many of these have not yet been built, and access to the planned social housing will initially only off Ty Draw Road, an unlit country lane with no footpath.

Hundreds of Pontprennau residents objected to the plans, raising concerns that the new footpath could raise crime rates in the area and cause property values to plummet. One local resident, Joanna Fashan, presented a petition to Cardiff council’s planning committee with these concerns on Wednesday, February 2.

She said:

“Residents deliberately purchased properties on this street [Clos Nant Glaswg] as it was a closed cul-de-sac, knowing we could raise our families safely, have quiet retirements, feel safe living alone, and all the other positives that living on such a street has.

“This alleyway opens up all development from Ty Draw Road into Pontprennau, creating a rat run. We are therefore at risk of higher crime rates, for example from opportunist car thieves. This puts the safety and security of the whole Pontprennau community at risk.”

Another concern was the lack of adequate access to social housing, described as “piecemeal and premature”. Thousands of other homes north of the site are planned in future, and travel links will be created throughout Strategic Site F, although this could be some years away.

Councillor Dianne Rees, representing Pontprennau and Old St Mellons, said:

“The chief flaw is the applicant has failed to address access needs to the site. It’s piecemeal and premature. It’s a development in relative isolation, on the urban fringe. Yes there will be development in the future, but who knows when?

“What is being proposed is the creation of a ghetto: houses cut off from the wider community both in Pontprennau and Lisvane. It’s massively opposed by residents of Ty Draw Road and west Pontprennau. It will effectively restrict residents of this new development to the site after dark, as the connection into Pontprennau will be crossing an unlit narrow country road.”

One house on the cul-de-sac will be knocked down to make way for the footpath: Number 43 Clos Nant Glaswg. It’s understood that United Welsh bought this house about a year ago and is renting it out before the demolition.

Emma Fortune, a planning agent representing the developers defended the scheme as well connected, providing much needed affordable housing, and said the homes will be carbon neutral.

She said:

“The site cannot be considered piecemeal premature development, nor has it been designed in isolation to the wider north-east Cardiff strategic site. In fact, the site provides a direct link to the land to the north, as well as providing the shared cycle-footway to the south connecting into the wider Pontprennau estate.

“This footpath and cycleway will provide an important strategic active travel link for residents, providing access to shops, services and public transport links that will be developed within the strategic site itself, and allowing people to access services in Pontprennau.

“The link provides a safe and convenient alternative, so residents can walk or cycle, rather than use their cars. The proposed development of 45 carbon-neutral homes contributes to making up the shortfall in the delivery of affordable homes in Cardiff.”

However, the carbon-neutral credentials of the scheme were questioned, as no solar panels will be installed, and of the 62 car parking spaces, only five will have electric vehicle charging points.

Cllr Mike Jones-Pritchard said:

“I find it rather piecemeal that, when in eight years oil-powered cars will no longer be available, we’re only supplying EV [charging stations] to five households on a development of 45 homes. That’s so shortsighted on what has been called a zero-carbon site. I also can’t see any evidence of solar panels to generate electricity.”

The criticisms of building a “ghetto” were also questioned, with one councillor claiming lawyers and engineers live in social housing.

Cllr Ali Ahmed said:

“We’re not creating any ghetto. Most people who live in social housing, some of them are solicitors, barristers, engineers, you name it. Yes we are destroying one house, but we are trying to provide 45 much-needed homes for Cardiff residents.”