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Wales Online
a day ago
- Business
- Wales Online
The huge neglected Welsh seaside town mansion that's about to have a new lease of life
The huge neglected Welsh seaside town mansion that's about to have a new lease of life Plans to turn Gardenhurst in Penarth into apartments have finally been approved, paving the way for new life to be breathed into the Victorian manor house The long-derelict Gardenhurst mansion in Penarth will be turned into flats (Image: John Myers ) A neglected Welsh seaside town mansion and former daycare centre will be transformed into new homes after lying empty for years. Vale of Glamorgan Council's planning committee recently approved plans to turn the large Gardenhurst house in Penarth into six apartments and allow the construction of three new homes on site. The planned revival of the Victorian building was welcomed by councillors, including one representative for the local area who said it was a "shame" to see it disused since 2014. A member of the planning committee, Cllr Ian Johnson said: "After a decade of being in disuse, I believe that we should look forward to this site being regenerated." For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . Vale of Glamorgan Council ward member for Stanwell, Cllr Mark Wilson, who is also a member of the planning committee said: "The reality is, this is a site that's been empty for quite some time now and really we need to make progress on it." The council originally asked the developers for a financial contribution of £264,730 for affordable housing. However, a viability assessment later found that such a contribution would make the Gardenhurst project unviable. Article continues below Cllr Wilson said: "I am a bit disappointed about the lack of 106 funding for affordable housing, but we all know that cost of materials now is very expensive and these projects have got to financially [stand up] and I understand that." Another member of the planning committee, Cllr Anthony Ernest, raised concerns about the proposal to build three homes on the car park of Gardenhurst. Councillors said at a recent planning meeting that they wanted to see the old building brought back to life (Image: John Myers ) He also argued that congestion is already an existing issue on Marine Parade and Park Grove, but added that he supported the overall scheme. Cllr Ernest, who is also a councillor for the ward that Gardenhurst is located in, said earlier this year: "I would very much like to see this outstanding property in the Penarth Conservation Area brought back into more beneficial use so that it can continue to be a prominent building in the Penarth Conservation Area." Vale of Glamorgan Council planners argued that the reduction in parking on site can be justified due to its close proximity to public transport and the town centre. A council planning document adds: "Furthermore, the highway authority requested a parking survey to be conducted and the results of that survey highlight that there is sufficient on street availability to cater for any additional provision which may be required as part of the development if the internal parking area is saturated." An artist's impression of what Gardenhurst could look like once work on it is completed (Image: Turley & Young Partnership ) Plans to change the use of the building to provide six new flats and three new houses were submitted in 2016. Article continues below However, several changes were made to the planning application over the years. A separate planning application to turn Gardenhurst into flats was made in 2015, but this was eventually withdrawn.
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Woking Borough Council sells scrapped Victoria Arch scheme site
An effectively bankrupt council has sold its stake in a town centre site once set aside for a multi-million pound Borough Council purchased about half a hectare of land between Victoria Road and Guildford Road during a spending spree that contributed to its financial collapse in 2023, according to the Local Democracy Reporting for the site included new homes and the widening of the Victoria Arch railway council's executive scrapped the project four months after declaring itself effectively bankrupt and accepted a bid for the land in June. Network Rail previously told the council that it had no appetite to proceed with the railway works and the scheme was at "no longer either financially practicable or supported by key stakeholders".Finance portfolio holder Dale Roberts described the scheme as "ambitious, but in practical terms, fatally flawed" and "never viable in the way it was configured".He told a meeting of council's executive that the project collapsed due to the local authority's financial problems, but "the seeds of failure were sewn long before that"."We're closing a chapter on a project that could never have delivered," he council has not revealed the sum generated by the sale of the land, but council documents show the "highest financial offer" was local authority's original budget to redevelop the bridge was £115m, but that soon rose to about £ portfolio holder Ian Johnson told the June meeting that problems first began to materialise when existing site residents refused to sell their properties to the council also agreed to sell a site in Commercial Way and Goldsworth Road Industrial Estate.
Wales Online
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
People fear plans to transform outdated sports centre could be 'kicked into the long grass'
People fear plans to transform outdated sports centre could be 'kicked into the long grass' Vale of Glamorgan Council expressed an interest in redeveloping the sports facilities in Barry, but a number of reasons led them to re-think their plan Residents are still waiting for answers on what will happen to the Colcot Sports Centre in Barry (Image: Google Maps ) Residents and park users are still waiting answers on what will happen to a sports facility in Barry that's seen as being "well beyond" its lifespan. Vale of Glamorgan Council's live well scrutiny committee met on Tuesday, May 27, to discuss the future of the Buttrills and Colcot sports sites. The discussion came about five months after the council announced it would not be able to follow up on its proposal to upgrade Colcot Sports Centre due to a number of reasons, including a lack of funds. Plaid Cymru group leader at Vale of Glamorgan Council, Cllr Ian Johnson, requested that the matter be considered at Tuesday's scrutiny committee meeting, fearing the issues would be "kicked into the long grass". For our free daily briefing on some of the major issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . Cllr Johnson, who is also a ward councillor for Buttrills, said the sports centre was now 60 years old and "well beyond its lifespan". A public consultation on Vale of Glamorgan Council's plans for Colcot Sports Centre in 2024 found that the preferred way forward was a refurbishment of the existing facility. However, in December it was announced that the cost of the scheme had risen significantly. Cllr Johnson said: "In 2021, the boiler [of the Colcot centre] was condemned because of safety concerns. "It is a dark and grim building which has barely changed since I first set foot in there, playing [football] back in the 1980s. "It is certainly not the modern 21st century building you would expect with a sporting hub for Wales' largest town, nor is it a welcoming environment for girls and women's football." Labour councillors, Cllr Belinda Loveluck-Edwards and Cllr Emma Goodjohn, added their voices to calls for answers on the future of Colcot Sports Centre and the Buttrills and asked what efforts the council would make to secure funding from external sources. However, councillors were left none the wiser on how soon residents could expect progress on improving facilities in both areas. Operation manager for neighbourhood services, healthy living and performance at the council, Dave Knevett, said Colcot Sports Centre was beyond its life expectancy and called it "embarrassing" at a council meeting in December, 2024. Speaking at Tuesday's meeting, he again recognised a need to improve facilities. Mr Knevett said the council had been in discussion with potential partners for future projects at the Buttrills and Colcot sites, including Cymru Football Foundation, but was unable to give further details on a timescale for future plans. He added: "I can't give specifics in terms of where we are. There are various deadlines in terms of grants. Article continues below "We do need to do some more consultation in terms of the site and we are eager to do some local consultation, bearing in mind the... comments that came from the community with the original proposals. "It's important that local needs are taken into account as well as the needs of the sports that will be provided at these facilities."
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Man first in world to join new part of brain cancer trial in Leeds
A man has become the first in the world to join the new part of a brain cancer trial in Leeds. Ian Johnson, 50, is taking part in a study testing a new drug called AZD1390, which is being used alongside radiotherapy to treat glioblastoma—a type of brain cancer. The drug is designed to make radiotherapy more effective by stopping cancer cells from repairing themselves after treatment. Mr Johnson, a senior crown prosecutor and father of two, was diagnosed with glioblastoma in December 2023. He said: "The diagnosis was a huge shock; I'd always been healthy and had no medical issues before this." He had surgery to remove the tumour in January, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, a scan showed the tumour had returned. Because his body didn't respond well to chemotherapy, Mr Johnson's doctor referred him to Leeds to explore other treatment options, which is when he learned about the trial using AZD1390. Mr Johnson added: "The team here has been incredible—supportive, kind, and always there to answer questions." Since starting the treatment, Mr Johnson says he's been able to continue doing the things he loves, like walking, birdwatching, and spending time with his family.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Re-Member: Service learning experience provides beds, firewood and more each week
Pine Ridge, S.D. (KELO) — College and high school students from across the region are on the Pine Ridge Reservation today. They're volunteers with Re-Member and are spending the week building beds and wheelchair ramps, and even cutting firewood for those in need. Ian Johnson is a high school student from Colorado. He's here not only to work, but to listen and connect with people. 'It gives them some privacy and some dignity. It just makes life feel a little less tragic I think for a lot of people and just gives them a baseline of respect that I think everyone deserves,' Colorado Junior Ian Johnson said. Calls for help to Senator Rounds triple as DOGE cuts hit South Dakotans Up to 40 student volunteers show up each week ready to work. 'So they need to be things that we can teach people how to do sort of the day of, but make sure that obviously we are constructing a solid, safe, effective project that really helps people out functionally,' Executive Director William Paese said. It's about more than manual labor, during the visit, students also learn about life on the reservation. 'And also hear from local speakers and cultural presenters throughout the week. Voices from within this community, to share the stories and some of the history and some of the reality of Pine Ridge,' Paese said. Through knowledge and hard work, the program is connecting people and teaching students about different perspectives. Everyone involved benefits. 'There's a real sense of community in that. Being able to serve people in need, not only helps form connections with you and the person you're serving, but also the people around you. It really just gives you a sense that you know, like the Lakota say, we are all related, we are all family,' Johnson said. Re-Member has been working with volunteers for over 27 years and each week a new group of students and teachers step up to help. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
