2. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to meet housing development needs in Cardiff? OQ58213

Llywydd, Cardiff Council is responsible for these issues. The authority must operate within the framework noted in 'Planning Policy Wales', as has been previously reported to this Senedd.

Thank you very much, First Minister. I was very pleased to read the report on the creation of a metro between Llantrisant and Cardiff, and I agree entirely with you, and with the Counsel General, about the importance of that scheme. The difficulty of course is that it's going to take 10 years to build, and, as you know, thousands of people have moved to new homes in the north of the city, with the driveways of these homes with several cars in them. The public transport provision isn't sufficient in that part of the city. Another concern that has been raised recently by residents in north Cardiff is the new sewage pumping station in historic Hailey park. How can we ensure that vital provisions are in place before constructing new major developments, First Minister? Thank you.

Llywydd, thank you to Rhys ab Owen for that supplementary question. I must be careful in keeping that separation between what I do as the Member for Cardiff West and my ministerial responsibilities here in Wales. Just to be clear, neither myself nor the Counsel General will participate in any decision on the possibility of redesigning the rail line from Cardiff West to the Pontypridd constituency. Generally speaking, there is a lot of work ongoing in Plasdŵr, in terms of bus provision and also in planning for those who want to cycle from their homes to work. And I know that Cardiff Council has plans in place, and they are consulting at the moment in Llandaf, in order to extend the system that we already have, and to take that out to Plasdŵr, to help people to come in to the city in that way. The city of Cardiff, Llywydd, is redesigning their LDP, and, as they do that, they will, as I said in my original response, have to work within the statutory process that we now have here in Wales. That's what the plan that we put out to local authorities says.

It's in the development plan's manual. Infrastructure plans must be prepared that clearly set out what infrastructure is required, the broad cost and timing, as well as funding sources. Llywydd, Cardiff Council did submit a set of master plans, alongside its LDP, back in 2016. But the provision of an infrastructure plan, as part of its replacement LDP, will now be a statutory requirement, and that will help at least to respond to the points that Rhys ab Owen has raised this afternoon.

First Minister, on 8 January 2019, Huw Irranca-Davies asked you about what this Government was doing to ensure that the transport infrastructure is definitely in place to enable the grand plans for new housing in Cardiff and south Wales, to help create, in his words, hundreds and hundreds of happy home owners, not grumpy, gridlocked constituents. As you may recall, you responded that the Welsh Government had legislated to create the conditions in which local authorities can come together to create strategic development plans, and that you were pleased to see, last year, the Cardiff capital deal authorities coming together to develop such a plan for a wider area, and that you looked forward to seeing how, in 2019, that intention turned into practical action. Well, three years later, we can clearly see that the legislation that this Government created has helped Cardiff turn into a city with many, many grumpy, gridlocked constituents, and it's clearly not working. The infrastructure situation in and around Creigiau and Radyr is dreadful at best, and, as you will be well aware, it is exacerbated by the fact that the new housing developments do not have sufficient amenities, meaning that residents have to drive to access schools, health facilities, shops and such, which further aggravates the situation. In addition, bus services are awful. They are removing more and more services in the area—

You're going to need to come to a question, please, Joel James.  

Say that again, sorry. This isn't—[Inaudible.]  

You're going to need to come to a question. 

No worries. First Minister, why is it this Government cannot create legislation that ensures sufficient amenities, public transport and infrastructure are put into place before house building is allowed? Thank you. 

Well, Llywydd, I thank the Member for the interest he too takes in the Cardiff West constituency. I give him the assurance that I will report his views to the elected Member and that they'll be taken with the seriousness that they merit, including all the work that goes on to ensure that there are the amenities there that need to be provided for a population of the sort that has chosen to go and live in the Plasdŵr development. Far from being 'grumpy' citizens of Cardiff, as the Member suggests, these are people spending many thousands of pounds voluntarily to take up the opportunity that's been created for them. 

I just wanted to focus on the planning infrastructure around housing developments. I was very disappointed to learn that Cardiff Council has given planning approval for 700 homes on the old Brains site, just south of Cardiff Central station—a 29-storey development—and the only contribution to social housing is £600,000 for homes to be built elsewhere. Well, that equates to about five homes. So, I just wondered what plans the Welsh Government might have to strengthen the obligation to house not just the people who can afford to buy houses, but those who are waiting on the housing waiting list. 

Well, Llywydd, the decision to go ahead with housing on the old Brains site is, of course, a welcome one, because it means that housing is happening on a brownfield site and in the inner city part of Cardiff, where we know demand for housing is significant. But I do agree with what Jenny Rathbone has said: that it is for local authorities to make the maximum use they can of the arrangements that are in place there for them to ensure that developers make a significant contribution to the future housing needs not simply of people who will be able to afford to buy properties on that site, but to the general effort that needs to be made to increase the supply of affordable social housing of a good standard here in Wales. I commend Cardiff city council for everything they are doing to build council housing in the city for the first time in a very long time, but other opportunities also need to be seized.