Proposals are starting to emerge from the early stages of the £1.2bn City Deal, which covers 10 local authorities in the Cardiff Capital Region. The main focus for expenditure is to develop the electrified Metro System serving Cardiff and the Valleys. However, additional potential schemes include consideration of a new road to provide a direct link from the M4 to Cardiff Airport, potentially from Junction 34 at Miskin, an assessment which ministers say should be linked with the wider St Athan enterprise zone. An alternative route has been suggested from Junction 33 via a new interchange before Culverhouse Cross, which would ultimately link with an upgraded Five Mile Lane.
Other potential schemes being looked at under the City Deal are several park and ride schemes for the Metro rail network, which the City Deal Investment Fund supports, and the acquisition of the former LG site at Imperial Park in Newport from the Welsh Government, to help facilitate the development of a Compound Semi-Conductor industrial cluster in the region, known as CS Connected.
Commenting on the proposals, Chairman of Cooke & Arkwright, Michael Lawley said, “As well as the significant allocation of funding for the Metro system, schemes such as an airport link road will provide a timely boost to the long term vitality of South Wales and will be welcomed. With the Welsh Government owning the airport and seeking to expand the number of flights and routes operating from it, improving both the road and rail transport links should help to facilitate future growth and make it more competitive with Bristol.”