Changing Cardiff Bay

For better or worse?

You decide!

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Teachers’ Notes

Challenge!

• Imagine you and your group represent the local planning committee

• A number of planning applications have been received

• In groups examine each application and decide upon advantages and disadvantages for each scheme !

Good luck!

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Planning proposal 1

The Council needs to build more housing

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

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By building in Cardiff Bay on a “brownfield site” it means they

don’t have to build new houses on “Greenfield” farm land outside the

city.

The apartments would be expensive – attracting

wealthy single people into the area who work in the

bay or other parts of Cardiff.

The area would be a good place to live as there is plenty to do and there would

be excellent views of the bay from the apartments.

More people living in the area would mean more

money being spent in local shops , pubs and

restaurants.

There would have to be a car park provided as well. Cheaper

or rented housing wouldn’t bring in enough money as the land is very expensive to buy.

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Planning proposal 2

More shops and restaurants?

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

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Quite a few big retail companies are showing an interest in

developing this site.

With more people moving into the area and visiting the area there is a need for more shops to

serve people.

The companies are willing to pay a good price for the land and will pay for the building work as they

will make their money later when people start using the

shops.

There will be a need for a new road junction with traffic lights and a large

parking area as most people will be travelling by

car.

Local people will benefit as they also have a better range of goods to buy at cheaper prices than the existing local shops.

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Planning proposal 3

A Tourist Attraction?

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

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The site would be excellent for developing a tourist attraction .

There are already many attractions in the Bay such as Techniquest and

the Visitor centre.

Cardiff is the capital city of Wales and needs

to offer as many attractions to visitors

from other countries and around Wales as possible.

Tourists bring money into the area and create jobs for people providing services

for the tourists. They are also good for the image of

the area.

One idea is to create an aquarium with underwater

viewing beneath the bay. This could be used for education and

teaching people about sustainability and looking after

the oceans and the natural world.

A place for cars and coaches to park would also be

needed.

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Planning proposal 4

A Nature Reserve?

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

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Before the barrage was built to create a large freshwater lake, the mudflats were important feeding

ground for migrating birds and wildlife habitat.

The barrage has destroyed these feeding grounds. Swarms of flies are a problem in the bay

area now as there are no predators to eat the larvae that

collect on the surface of the water.

One idea is to re-create an area of natural salt marsh and wetland habitat at the

site that would attract wading birds and help preserve the local bio-

diversity.

This would be a sustainable answer as it is helping to

conserve the natural habitat for future generations.

This would not create any money through selling the land

but it could be used for education once it was

established.

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Planning proposal 5Offices and Businesses?

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

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The waterfront is an attractive environment for modern

businesses. Many companies are showing an interest in developing large , modern office complexes in

the area.

This will create jobs – particularly for people with

university degrees and good qualifications.

The improved roads, bridge and tunnel make Cardiff Bay

much easier to reach for employees and for moving

goods in and out.

It is much better to build new offices or factories on “brownfield” sites than have to build on “Greenfield” farmland on the edge

of the city.

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Teachers Notes

• Pupils can work in groups to present the advantages and disadvantages for each planning proposal and feedback to a council planning committee (may be made up of adults from the school community)

• Pupils could be representatives of each group and make a presentation including sketches, plans, maps etc explaining why their planning proposal should be chosen over the others.

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