Wales round-up: North Wales offshore wind farm could expand; Tredegar pharma project gains backing

Huge North Wales offshore wind farm could expand

RWE Renewables UK has confirmed that it has secured a lease from the Crown Estate to extend its existing Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm, located off the coast of North Wales.

The Planner

Sunak makes green jobs pledge

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a £2 billion Green Homes Grant as part of his plan to protect jobs and prevent spiralling unemployment as the UK recovers from the effects of Covid-19.

The Planner

RTPI welcomes Sunak’s intentions for a green recovery

RTPI chief executive Victoria Hill has ‘cautiously’ welcomed the chancellor’s commitments to help the built environment recover from Covid-19, but she argued that ‘strong planning will be needed to maximise all the investment’.

The Planner

New strategy celebrates work of RTPI volunteers

An important new strategy has today been launched by the RTPI with the aim of celebrating the support and involvement of the institute’s volunteers.

RTPI

Tredegar pharma project gains backing

Blaenau Gwent councillors have unanimously backed plans by a pharmaceutical firm for a £9 million new packaging building at its centre on the Tafarnaubach Industrial Estate in Tredegar.

Wales Online

New capital square

The city council has announced proposals to create a public square inside Cardiff Castle and use Castle Street and the Castle moat as a covered area for local restaurants and cafés to deliver food to.

Wales Online

Aldi hunts new locations

Supermarket chain Aldi has revealed plans for another 36 stores across Wales and named the locations where it wants to build 1,858-square-metre outlets, each with 100 parking spaces.

Wales Online

PM pledges M4 relief road

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said his government will deliver an M4 Relief Road in South Wales, despite the matter being a devolved issue.

Wales Online

RCT bids for social distancing funds

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has bid for more than £2 million in government funding to develop more social distancing measures in communities including reassigning road space to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists, and introducing 20mph limits in town centres and outside schools.

Wales Online

Natura 2000 sites boost

The government, in partnership with Natural Resources Wales, has opened a new round of grant funding – worth £4 million – for large-scale capital projects to maintain and improve Natura 2000 sites.

Welsh Government

Swansea’s greenest building backed

Revised plans for a sustainable mixed-use redevelopment in the centre of Swansea, which will incorporate extensive on-building greening, have been recommended for approval.

Insider Media

Haverfordwest redevelopment

Pembrokeshire County Council’s cabinet has agreed to invite open tenders to develop an area on Haverfordwest’s town centre, part of the Western Quayside Redevelopment, which includes the former Ocky White building as well as the surrounding area to the rear of Bridge Street, near Glan yr Afon library and cultural centre. 

BBC News

Cardiff’s Tudor Street regeneration

Cardiff's Tudor Street is set to benefit from a multimillion-pound regeneration programme designed to create an attractive and vibrant shopping area for the local community and visitors to the Riverside area, thanks to a mix of central and local government funding.

Cardiff City Council

Planning fees set to rise

The government has confirmed its intention to increase planning fees by 20 per cent as well as bringing in a fee of £230 for applications for certificates of alternative development.

Welsh Government