New life planned for our old town (From Barry And District News)

New life planned for our old town

EVERYBODY is buzzing about Barry.

Massive plans to breathe new life into this old town are making ripples across the country.

The Waterfront Development Scheme and the Town Centre Regeneration is putting the area at the top of the hot property list.

With the housing market on the up, prices in the UK are increasing by more than £100 per day and interest rates are rising fast.

According to the latest Government figures issued in June 2004, Welsh properties are increasing more than anywhere else in the UK, with the average house now costing £123,685.

Cardiff has seen vast improvements over the years - with more to come.

Just ten miles along the coast from Wales' capital city, 'Waterfront Barry' mirrors the success of the Cardiff Bay transformation.

Over the past ten years the development, one of the UK's largest urban-regeneration schemes, has attracted over £100m of investment, and continues to attract leading house builders and top quality shops and leisure facilities.

Waterfront Barry is a joint initiative between Associated British Ports (ABP) and the Welsh Development Agency (WDA). The mixed-use 77-hectare (190-acre) scheme on disused former industrial land at 'Number 1 Dock' continues to raise Barry's profile on a national basis as a dynamic and successful area in which to live and work.

With over 500 homes built at Waterfront Barry and more planned, proposals to market Jackson's Quay - a prime 0.5-hectare (1.3-acre) residential area on the site - were recently unveiled. This is to accompany the development of Holton Reach, a six-acre area of land adjacent to Jackson's Quay, where Redrow plans to build 84 private homes and 27 affordable homes for rent, alongside a community centre, a doctor's surgery and pharmacy, and open space to benefit the community in and around the waterfront.

Land has also been allocated for a new footbridge to link the area with the town centre.

In addition, Wm Morrisons' new retail park development includes a Focus DIY store and Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.

Waterfront Barry benefits from excellent transport communications and is served by three railway stations, providing easy and rapid access to Cardiff, with links to the national rail network. New road links provide direct access to the town centre and also quick connections to Cardiff, while the M4 provides easy access to London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Swansea. Cardiff Wales International Airport is situated only three miles away from Waterfront Barry, with regular flights to UK and European cities as well as connections worldwide.

Mike Rees of joint marketing agents, Chesterton, said: "From our feedback, it is clear that Waterfront Barry is very popular with developers and prospective house-buyers alike who want to benefit from a cosmopolitan lifestyle at an accessible price. Although the pace of house-price growth has slowed for the first time in six months, future regeneration plans mean that there is still plenty of opportunity for property in Barry to increase in value. I am confident that this will continue to be one of the most successful sites in Wales."

For Steve Pritchard, ABP regional property manager, the changes at the waterfront have been dramatic: "Having been involved with this project from the very beginning, I know all of the planning and work that has gone towards making Waterfront Barry such a success. Most importantly, a new and thriving community has been created as an integral part of Barry as a whole. An already healthy interest from developers is increasing further too - a sure sign that the huge potential of Waterfront Barry as an area for prime development and economic growth, is recognised."

Waterfront Barry has established itself as a key part of the community by hosting events including charity runs, festivals and celebrations. The waterfront provides a spectacular setting for quayside events such as Tall Ship visits and sailing regattas and there are plans to continue water-orientated activities in the future.

Geraint Bowden, project manager for the scheme, Welsh Development Agency, added: "Waterfront Barry is an excellent example of a public/private partnership and is transforming 190 acres of derelict land next to Barry town centre into a vibrant mixed-use community. The project is a key element of a programme of regeneration which is turning Barry into a flourishing location in which to invest, live and work, and is certainly an attractive alternative to Cardiff."

Cllr Jeffrey James, Leader, Vale of Glamorgan Council, said: "We are delighted at the tremendous progress that has been made in the Waterfront Barry area in partnership with the Vale of Glamorgan Council, ABP and the WDA. ABP and the WDA are working extremely hard to ensure the development is of the highest standard and also meets our objectives for regeneration."

He added: "We are very proud of Barry and would encourage anyone to come and visit this attractive coastal area which offers a high quality environment and lifestyle."

For further information about Waterfront Barry, please contact: Byron Lewis, ABP Estates Surveyor, on 029 2083 5042 or visit the website:

www.waterfrontbarry.com