Progress Made on Completing Barry Housing Scheme as Council Considers Legal Action Against Developers

Progress is being made on completing key elements of a major Barry housing scheme as a council considers legal action against the developers behind it.
Vale of Glamorgan Council said it is still in the process of seeking an injunction which would stop the sale of more homes at Barry Waterfront until certain construction commitments are fulfilled.
Since the council announced that it was seeking legal action against the developers behind the housing scheme, Barry Waterfront Consortium, a road has been surfaced and planting is underway to deliver green spaces.
Local councillors are positive about the recent update, but they have called on the council to maintain pressure on the consortium, which is made up of Taylor Wimpey, Persimmon Homes and Barratt Homes.
Vale of Glamorgan Council ward member for Baruc, Cllr Mark Hooper, said: “As local councillors we have been pushing for action against these developers for years.
“Whilst we’re pleased to see progress, eventually, we know that this isn’t the time to let up on the pressure.”
The leader of Vale of Glamorgan Council, Cllr Lis Burnett, accused the Barry Waterfront Consortium in August of breaking promises in its plans to develop 2,000 homes at Barry Docks.
Some of the issues raised by residents over the years include  a lack of green spaces, parks and footpaths on the development.
There were also roads on the site in a partially completed state.
Cllr Hooper said he was pleased to hear that the council was taking action after the local authority announced it was seeking an injunction in September, but he added that this should have been done months ago.
The councillor, who is also a resident at Barry Waterfront , added: “The developers should be chased down until every single issue has been addressed and completed to the standards we expect.
“The residents have been let down by the developers and the council to date, so this isn’t the time for self-congratulatory back-slapping; its time for diligence and continued hard work.”
Progress on community elements of the Barry Waterfront Development includes: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Surfacing of Ffordd y Dociau and planning for an arrangement of raised paving blocks there
Commissioning of a water feature and surrounding hard surfaced areas between Clos and Lon y Rheilffordd
Planting of a new wild seed mix between Clos and Lon y Rheilffordd
Paving laid and retaining walls constructed along Dockside Quay
Laying of paving at East Quay
Removal of significant amounts of earth at East Quay for a park to be created
Additional tree planters ordered for the District Centre
Planning permission granted to broaden the range of businesses that can occupy space in the District Centre
Two stand-alone pods in the District Centre have been transferred to new owners ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The other ward councillor for Baruc, Cllr Nic Hodges, said: “The Council officers must continue with the legal proceedings; it’s the only thing these developers understand.
“I don’t want to see the same problems as we’ve seen down the Waterfront get repeated somewhere else in the Vale in a few years’ time; they need to know we mean business.”
In response to the council’s announcement last month, Barry Waterfront Consortium said it remains committed to working alongside the council to complete the Barry Waterfront regeneration project to the highest standard, as quickly as possible.
A Barry Waterfront spokesperson said: “We will continue to deliver this detailed programme of works — which has already been shared with the council and residents — and will provide regular progress updates to all parties involved via weekly updates and fortnightly meetings with the council.”
Council leader, Cllr Lis Burnett, said: “I’m pleased that we finally seem to be making some headway when it comes to delivering long-overdue community aspects of the development at Barry Waterfront.
“Having met with waterfront residents, we understand first-hand the difficulties they are facing and share their dissatisfaction at an unacceptable situation that has gone on for far too long.
“In regular meetings, we have made our strength of feeling clear to the developers in no uncertain terms and, though the message finally seems to be getting through, the Council is not about to throttle back.
“We want all outstanding work completed as quickly as possible and will pursue every available avenue to achieve this.
“That includes taking legal action, with the developers recently sent communication related to that process.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​