When developing a new community, there is a responsibility to create a place which is mindful of its local heritage. Selecting a name for this community plays a key role in placemaking – helping to maintain the culture and heritage of the area, as well as contributing towards creating a sense of place and identity.
At Plasdŵr, the names we and our developers choose must take inspiration from the history, heritage, and natural landscape of the area. This applies to everything from the facilities and green spaces to individual developments. Our five neighbourhoods – Groeswen, Pendown, Maesllech, Cefntrebane and Hafod – all follow suit too.
Not only does this keep the history of the area alive, but it also aligns with the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, playing an important role in delivering the goal of creating ‘a Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language.’ And it complements Cardiff Council’s vision to establish Cardiff as a bilingual city with all new street names taking their inspiration from the Welsh language.
So, what does this mean for the developments currently underway or complete within the garden city?
In the Groeswen neighbourhood, Redrow’s Parc Plymouth was the first development to be completed. Its name is derived from the Earl of Plymouth Estate which owns the land Plasdŵr is being built on. You will also find references to the Earl of Plymouth Estate in Penarth, such as Plymouth Road. This land, also originally owned by the Earl of Plymouth Estate, was developed in 1853 to create the seaside town.
Redrow’s Cwrt Sant Ioan, or ‘John’ in English, is inspired by St John’s Church in the neighbouring Danescourt community. While Redrow’s development names focus on the heritage of the area, both Bellway and Lewis Homes have taken inspiration from its natural landscape. Bellway’s Rhiwlas means ‘green hillside’, drawing on the old Welsh ‘las’ (‘green’), reflecting the development’s hillside positioning, and Lewis Homes’ Dôl Werdd is ‘green meadow’.
Redrow’s Cae St Fagans is currently the only development built in the Pendown neighbourhood, named after the local area of St Fagans.
As more developments are created in Plasdŵr over the next 20+ years, our hope is for this naming convention to strengthen local, historical awareness of its surroundings, helping to keep local history and heritage alive as the city grows and feeding into Cardiff Council’s vision for a vibrant and bilingual capital city.