Public open space to begin development at Barry's Waterfront

For years residents have bemoaned the lack of completion of crucial infrastructure at Barry's huge housing development round the dock area as they moved into their new homes.

It came to the point that on February 22, Vale Council announced they had issued what’s known as a ‘consent order’ on housing consortium Barratt, Taylor Whimpey and Persimmon to reduce their capacity to sell homes until community areas at the Waterfront are complete.

The council has now revealed what works have been done, and what's still to be developed in order for the Waterfront to finally be considered “finished”.

Work done includes re-planting of vegetation in areas where landscaping has failed, “substantial completion” of hard landscaped areas around the dock edges and the highways along South Quay are said to have been finished.

Work still to be done include finishing the circular water feature by the District Centre – set to be completed by the end of March - before development begins on an “outstanding” public open space in what many thought was a forgotten corner of the development up the southern cliffside opposite Barry Island Primary School.

The council has given an update on works at Barry's Waterfront development (Image: Newsquest)

A Vale Council spokesperson told the Barry and District News: “Positive progress has been made in recent months towards completion of key areas of public realm.

“Works are close to completion in the areas around the District Centre and leading through the linear park towards Ffordd y Milleniwm.

“This has involved re-planting in areas where landscaping had failed, and substantial completion of the hard landscaped areas around the dock edges.

“The highways along South Quay have been completed, and works are progressing towards delivery of the park at East Quay, opposite the listed Docks Office.

An 'outstanding' public area is set to be built opposite Barry Island Primary School (Image: Newsquest)

“There remain works to complete around the dock edge and around the circular water feature by the District Centre, and these are projected to be completed by the end of March.

“The park at East Quay is due for completion by the summer, and work is due to start shortly on delivery of the outstanding public open space on top of the cliff opposite Barry Island Primary School and dwellings on Clive Road.

“The council continues to press for these areas to be completed as soon as possible, and has secured a legal Consent Order which gives extra legal assurance to the completion of these areas.

Barry's Waterfront started development four years ago and it's still not been completed (Image: Newsquest)

Read more on Barry's Waterfront development:

• Barry house builders acknowledge delays in completing works
• Barry's Waterfront Consortium restricted in house selling
• Barry's Waterfront development: What's it really like?

The consortium says the council’s actions were “unwarranted” given the “positive progress made”, but "acknowledged delays”.

A spokesperson for the consortium said: “Despite our view that the council's actions were unwarranted given the positive progress made of late and the ongoing dialogue between all parties, we accept and acknowledge the delays in delivering the public open spaces within the development.

“We hope to continue working closely with the council as we look to complete the Barry Waterfront regeneration scheme as quickly as possible, providing a high-quality development for the local community.”

Has all the work finally been completed on the Waterfront development in Barry? Residents of the Waterfront, are you seeing improvements? What do you think of the Barry Waterfront development and how it is going?

Let us know, emailing harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.