The measures will improve local access to green sites safeguarded against sale or development.
Over two-thirds of people in Cardiff will soon live near a public green space legally dedicated to outdoor play and community sports.
Cardiff councillors have approved an initiative to give eleven more local parks and green spaces special protection against future sale or development. Once implemented, 69 % of Cardiff’s population will live within walking distance of an open-air community site that is free to use and safeguarded for their enjoyment.
Council leader Huw Thomas said, “Cardiff wouldn’t be Cardiff without its parks and green spaces – they’re vital places for play and social wellbeing, they connect us with the nature on our doorsteps, support biodiversity, improve the quality of the air we all breathe and can help mitigate some of the worst effects of climate change.”
The scheme is a special type of legal partnership between Cardiff Council and the UK charity Fields in Trust, which works to secure the public use of green spaces now and in the future. Under the arrangement, the protected sites can only be used for outdoor recreation and enjoyment, keeping them for local use even if planning laws or council policies change.
Fields in Trust says that more access to outdoor play spaces is needed to help promote health and well-being, particularly among children and young people. A 2024 report by the charity found that over a quarter of children in Wales aged eight or younger live more than a ten-minute walk from a playground.
Ensuring children have access to local green spaces also supports Cardiff’s ambitions and commitments as the UK’s first UNICEF Child-Friendly City.
Councillor Jen Burke, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport & Parks, said, “This move reflects the Cardiff Council’s ongoing commitment to preserving parks and green spaces in perpetuity, recognising their essential role in the health, well-being and enjoyment of our communities.”
Ownership and maintenance of the sites remain with the council, but the charity must give consent for any building or developments unrelated to outdoor sports or leisure. All the green sites were identified by Cardiff Council and Fields in Trust. Selection criteria included areas in communities with limited green space access and higher levels of poverty.
Ten council-owned sites in Cardiff have already been protected through the Fields in Trust since 2022. The newly approved sites are Caerleon Park, Cemetery Park, Craiglee Drive, Fairwater Park, Hailey Park, Heol Llanishen Fach, Parc Waun Fach, Rhydypenau Park, Sanatorium Park, Trelai Park, and Westfield Park.
There are no plans to extend the partnership beyond the 21 sites, but councillors confirmed they would be open to future suggestions.
Councillor Burke said, “What Fields in Trust does is protect against the development of a commercial variety. It ensures that we are not building a block of flats [on these sites].”