Page 3 of 6

Re: Plasdwr - 6,000 Homes

PostPosted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 9:58 am
by Karl
moyceyyy wrote:
Karl wrote:Knee jerk reaction by me based on one photo but God that looks bleak.

Is this really what we want to live in or are we just at mercy of the volume house builders?


What did you have in mind? I think a slightly higher density could have done the area a bit of good - will take up less land and will allow for more provision of affordable housing. Hopefully, they have something up their sleeve.


In reality I expected exactly how it looks to be turning out (this is of course me basing my opinion on one photo) - but I hoped it might be slightly more contemporary and certainly denser.

The photo looks as though the view from the main road will be featherboard fencing with the backs of detached houses that appear from that angle to be randomly placed. It doesn't really give off that capital city vibe. Even developing a reasonable streetscape with a strong frontage (perhaps taller buildings) would be an improvement.

In terms of what the people want (as per DR O's comment) then I guess people moving to this development will want car parking and gardens back and front. I'm fine with that - its suburbia after all - but I don't think that necessarily precludes density or a more contemporary design. The issue is that the volume house builders all seem to produce variations upon a theme and there appears to be very little pressure on them to offer something different.

Re: Plasdwr - 6,000 Homes

PostPosted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:49 am
by george
I thought the idea was to have different styles/layouts for different areas of the overall development. Those closer to the "urban centres" will be higher density (and thus perhaps more contemporary?), with those on the fringes being lower density and more "traditional". The current developments are clearly of the latter. We won't see the higher density parts until later stages when they make a start on the area south of Llantrisant Road, adjacent to the proposed school, which I believe is where one of the employment/retail areas is to be located.

As it happens I personally prefer the more traditional look. When the big house builders try to go modern, they just end up with sticking large office style aluminium windows on a traditional brick house, which just looks daft.

Re: Plasdwr - 6,000 Homes

PostPosted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 11:45 am
by murfilicious
As I drove to work this morning along Llantrisant Road, the thought occurred to me that it may well be the very last time I do so without encountering any traffic lights (either temporary or permanent).

I join Llantrisant Road at the Danescourt Roundabout and drive all the way the Castell Mynach Junction, 5.5 miles of (mostly) national speed limit road without a single traffic light. But that's due to change today, as 28 weeks of roadworks start at the new Barratt Homes 'Maes y Deri' development just before Rhydlafar - this will involve the creation of a new traffic light controlled junction into the development.

Additionally, the Plasdwr Development further south will involve the conversion of the roundabout with Heol Isaf into a traffic light controlled crossroads and the creation of 3 signal-controlled pedestrian crossings:
At the Rear of 28 Heol Aradur,
Just north of Radyr Filling Station, and
Just after the Clos Parc Radyr junction.

Meanwhile, the development south of Creigiau will see the creation of two traffic light controlled junctions into the new development. Plus, early plans for Plasdwr (October 2016) showed there being traffic lights added to the Crofft y Genau junction in Rhydlafa and a nother traffic light controlled crossroads being built just south of Radyr Golf Club.

So by the time all of these roadworks are completed, this 5.5 mile stretch of road could go from having 0 traffic lights to potentially 9! At the moment it takes me about 25-30 mins to get to work in Pencoed, I wonder how long it will take when this is finished...

Re: Plasdwr - 6,000 Homes

PostPosted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 1:04 pm
by cardiffian
Its difficult to know what to say, the house designs and estate layout are abysmal.
No through road, dead end culled sac's, poor house layout, shoddy materials, you name it, these houses have it!

How would you be able to walk anywhere, theres no where to go?

Let have a think hmm, what are the most popular and vibrant areas of Cardiff?

The Terraced houses of and Roath , Canton and Penarth. All areas where you can actually walk somewhere!

Why people in the UK accept this kind of bland design is beyond me.

Re: Plasdwr - 6,000 Homes

PostPosted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 7:37 pm
by moyceyyy
cardiffian wrote:Its difficult to know what to say, the house designs and estate layout are abysmal.
No through road, dead end culled sac's, poor house layout, shoddy materials, you name it, these houses have it!

How would you be able to walk anywhere, theres no where to go?

Let have a think hmm, what are the most popular and vibrant areas of Cardiff?

The Terraced houses of and Roath , Canton and Penarth. All areas where you can actually walk somewhere!

Why people in the UK accept this kind of bland design is beyond me.


I'm with you here. The current 'suburbia' meta we have in this country is actually making cycling and walking harder for residents, and makes bus transport much less efficient. Councils and Governments are working against themselves here.

Re: Plasdwr - 6,000 Homes

PostPosted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 6:35 pm
by Frank
I may be a bit confused but what is people's problem with the design of the houses? Surely it's hardly a surprise for a few detached houses to be a part of the mix.

That said I am certainly worried. I presume a well designed layout for walking about street to street is unthinkable?

I have been going to Whitchurch occasionally recently and been quite impressed. A thriving High St at the centre of an appropriately designed suburb. Why don't modern developments learn from this. It's sad. Is there an assumption that nobody ever wants to visit the neighbours so why build pedestrian friendly estates? We've got a Costa on Cowbridge Road now (admittedly there might have been other coffee shops I hadn't noticed) but it saves one having to go into town.

Re: Plasdwr - 6,000 Homes

PostPosted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 6:45 pm
by cardiffian
Franks it not that they are detached thats the issue, it the house designs, bland an uninspiring.

Look at the size of those tiny windows! I wonder how many en-suites they each have?

Have look at what kind of houses are being constructed in many parts of Europe and compare to these!

Re: Plasdwr - 6,000 Homes

PostPosted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 7:43 pm
by Frank
The windows aren't that small are they? I'm more concerned with what properties are like on the inside. As someone who is looking to buy I've been pretty appalled at the way houses have been sliced and diced into several different apartments with no shape or sensible layout.

Re: Plasdwr - 6,000 Homes

PostPosted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 11:27 am
by Ben In London

Re: Plasdwr - 6,000 Homes

PostPosted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 3:05 pm
by Ash
I drove the length of Llantrisant Road this morning and the sheer number and scale of sites is extraordinary. I really don't see how the roads in Llandaff are going to cope at peak times. Sure there are plans for a Metro line in the distant future but these developments are happening now. Unlesss there is some short-term mitigation (and it's difficult to imagine what that might be) it's going to be horrendous.