Cardiff council's independent group has published an open letter to the council criticising the sale of the East Cardiff Park and Ride site in connection with plans for a controversial data centre. In January this year Curtis Hall Ltd lodged plans with Cardiff Council to build a data centre on the site of the East Cardiff Park and Ride.
This proposal has been met with considerable opposition from councillors, MSs, local residents and activists – with multiple campaigns emerging to stop the data centre from being approved. The developer had previously been given permission to develop the site, although not into a data centre campus as indicated by the new plans.
Open letter calls for halt on land sale
The letter, signed by Cllr Peter Littlechild and Cllr Emma Reid-Jones, reads: “We are calling on Cardiff Council not to sell council-owned land for data centre development unless and until it can be clearly demonstrated that doing so is in the best long-term interests of Cardiff residents.
“Public assets belong to the people of Cardiff. The council is their custodian, entrusted with protecting them for current and future generations.
“Decisions to dispose of public land should be guided not simply by commercial opportunity or immediate financial return, but by what delivers the greatest overall benefit for local communities.”
Legal duty and financial transparency demanded
The letter argues that under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, the council has a duty to involve the community and act in the interests of future generations, which they believe approving the data centre would not do.
It also calls on the council to provide a public response detailing the financial return the council will receive from selling the site and whether this has been assessed against the wider public value of retaining the land. This is in addition to publishing the full financial, social, economic and environmental case for any proposed disposal of public land for data centre development.
It also asks about the measurable long-term benefits Cardiff residents will receive through local employment, apprenticeships, business opportunities and investment. Curtis Hall Ltd has been adamant that employment opportunities will be created through the site.
Environmental and alternative use questions
The letter also asks about whether independent assessments have been undertaken into energy and water consumption, carbon emissions, and impacts on local infrastructure. The developer has previously denied claims that energy, water consumption, and carbon emissions would have significant negative impacts on local residents.
The letter asks whether alternative public uses for the land were considered. Finally the letter states: “With thousands of residents having raised concerns about the proposed disposal, what evidence demonstrates that selling this public asset will deliver a lasting public benefit for Cardiff, how has that benefit been assessed, and why does Cardiff council believe it outweighs both the strength of public opposition and the loss of a strategically important public asset?”
Council response and next steps
A Cardiff council spokesman told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The agreement relating to the site was reached a number of years ago following a market process designed to support the council’s stated strategic priority of delivering improved infrastructure and connectivity in east Cardiff, including a new bridge.
“The developer has subsequently secured planning permission and now has the right to proceed.
“However, they have sought a new permission to amend elements of their original development proposal. This includes the relocation of car parking spaces on the site which are currently being used on an informal basis to provide parking for NHS staff.
“Delivering improved infrastructure and connectivity in east Cardiff including a new bridge remains a priority, and the council will continue to engage in the development process.
“As part of that, the council has negotiated a position with the developer which means the existing NHS staff parking would remain available until a suitable alternative location has been put in place by the developer.
“More broadly, proposals involving the disposal of council-owned land are only progressed where the supporting business case demonstrates value for money for Cardiff taxpayers and supports the council’s wider strategic objectives.”
Earlier this year the Welsh Government issued a holding directive on the data centre plans, meaning that Cardiff Council can only debate or refuse the proposal while ministers decide whether they will be the final decision-makers. The LDRS understands a special meeting of the planning committee by the council has been organised to debate the proposal on November 12.
