Our Senior Project Manager, Grant Strong, recently attended the Western Gateway Development Conference on behalf of Plasdŵr.
The conference – which invited a number of organisations and projects from across the West of the UK – focused on topics spanning Net-Zero ambitions, strategic transport and infrastructure, regeneration and future investment. Grant was a part of a wider discussion on future development and creating world class places to live, sharing the progress of the £2bn garden city.
The conference placed Plasdŵr as a pioneering model for greenfield development, giving the opportunity to promote its key purposes while also focusing on innovation.
Grant was joined by Cllr David Renard, Leader of Swindon Council, Olaide Oboh, Director at Socius and Tristram Ford, Director of Watkin Jones.
The session was centred around modern housing needs in a post-COVID world. Up to 40% of Plasdŵr will be green space – a component which is becoming increasingly attractive within modern housing market – and prospective buyers are looking for a space within walking distance to green space making it easy to escape into nature.
This also led to discussions on active travel – with Plasdŵr’s eventual aim to reduce car usage while also promoting other forms of travel. Walking, cycling and public transport will eventually become the easiest ways of getting around.
The Western Gateway’s immediate priorities include becoming a gateway to global markets, accelerating housing growth, developing world class physical and digital infrastructure all the while underpinning the ambition with zero carbon credentials. Plasdŵr holds a significant place the transformation of these regional towns and cities.