Two environmental reports to support new Velindre Cancer Centre

Two environmental reports have been submitted to Cardiff Council to address planning conditions for the new Velindre Cancer Centre.

Assembled by Mott MacDonald Limited for Velindre University NHS Trust, the documents formally address many of the queries surrounding the centre’s development on the NHS-owned northern meadows land in Whitchurch.

After planning permission was granted back in March 2018, Velindre was required by the council to develop a Green Infrastructure Management Strategy (GIMS) and a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP).

The two technical documents back up Velindre’s ambition to build the Greenest Hospital in Britain by assessing and confirming the Centre’s environmental credentials.

David Powell, Project Director at Velindre University NHS Trust, says, “We have previously stressed our commitment to build a new Velindre Cancer Centre which supports the ecological diversity and natural environment of the northern meadows. Our ambition is to build the greenest hospital in Britain and the GIMS and CEMP documents provide substance to support this ambition.”

The 93 page Green Infrastructure Management Strategy describes how Velindre will protect trees, plants and animals on the northern meadows. It covers lighting, soil, new planting and improvements to biodiversity.

Addressing action to manage and restrict construction traffic, noise and dust, the Construction Environmental Management Plan shows how Velindre will manage the impact of construction of the new cancer centre. It emphasises the need to communicate actively and openly with people who live near the site.

Both the GIMS and CEMP documents will be updated and developed further after contractors are appointed for the construction work.

Velindre has also made submissions on three other conditions of its planning permission. The Trust has conducted a soil survey of the site and has provided further detail of the bridges it is building. It is also developing access improvements for pedestrians and cyclists from the site to Park Road and Coryton station.

Cardiff Council will consult on the GIMS, CEMP and other submissions with a closing date for comments on Wednesday 26 August 2020.

The Green Infrastructure Management Strategy (GIMS) can be found in full on the council website here: https://planningonline.cardiff.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=_CARDIFF_DCAPR_131590&activeTab=summary

The Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) can be found in full on the council website here: https://planningonline.cardiff.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=_CARDIFF_DCAPR_131630&activeTab=summary

‘A Velindre Cancer Centre for future generations. Our commitment to develop the greenest hospital in Britain’ can be found in full here.