The Environmental Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 09 June 2026 to discuss the Cardiff to Newport Sustainable Transport Corridor – Phase 1A, including the Kingsway Public Realm Improvements. The committee reviewed the report and its appendices, heard from officers, and discussed the potential impacts and benefits of the proposed scheme. The committee resolved to make comments and observations to the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Planning & Transport.

Cardiff to Newport Sustainable Transport Corridor – Phase 1A (Including Kingsway Public Realm Improvements)

The committee considered the report on the Cardiff to Newport Sustainable Transport Corridor – Phase 1A, which includes the Kingsway Public Realm Improvements. This project aims to enhance sustainable travel, connectivity, and the city centre environment by progressing Phase 1A of the corridor. The scheme involves significant highway improvements along the eastern city centre area and the creation of a new public realm space on Kingsway.

The report detailed the proposed works, which include the delivery of a permanent segregated cycleway, bus priority measures, upgraded junctions and pedestrian crossings, the removal of the Boulevard de Nantes subway, and the creation of a new public square on Kingsway. The project is part of a wider, multi-phase corridor connecting Cardiff city centre to Newport, aiming to improve journey times, reliability, and accessibility for all users, while also contributing to air quality improvements and carbon reduction.

During the discussion, councillors raised several points and concerns:

• Trust in Modelling: Councillor Kate Carr questioned the trust in the modelling done for the scheme, particularly regarding its impact on other areas of the city and on pedestrians. Officers explained that the modelling was an iterative process, demonstrating minimal impact on adjacent sections, with some localised impacts being offset by improvements elsewhere. They emphasised that the scheme prioritises pedestrians and cyclists.
• Pedestrian and Cyclist Interaction: Councillor Carr also raised concerns about potential conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists, especially in areas where behaviours might not be fully considerate of other users. Officers detailed the optioneering process undertaken, including lessons learned from temporary schemes and engagement with accessibility groups, to improve visibility and safety for both pedestrians and cyclists.
• Road Space Reallocation and Congestion: Councillor Bob Derbyshire inquired about the impact on motorists and road usage, particularly concerning the reallocation of road space. Officers clarified that space is being reallocated rather than lost, with highway layouts remaining similar but shifted to accommodate new infrastructure. They acknowledged the potential for congestion during and after construction, but stated that transport modelling had informed the design to manage these impacts.
• Integration with Metro and Future Transport: Councillor Derbyshire also asked about the integration of the scheme with the proposed South Wales Metro and future transport links. Officers confirmed ongoing liaison with Transport for Wales regarding connections to future stations like Cardiff East and Parkway stations.
• Development on Queen Street: Councillor Derbyshire raised a question about a potential new building development near Queen Street station and the liaison with developers. Officers confirmed that this would be considered during the planning process and that highway space allocation would be managed.
• Pinch Points and Congestion: Councillor John Lancaster noted the creation of pinch points in the design where road lanes reduce, suggesting this could increase congestion. He referenced the risks section of the report which acknowledged potential congestion. Officers explained that the modelling identified specific junctions (Park Place and West Grove) where impacts were concentrated, but that these were managed through signal design and reallocation of space. They also detailed plans to start construction at the West Grove end to create additional capacity before moving westwards, and to implement further facilitation works on adjacent streets to redirect traffic.
• Scheme Progression Criteria: Councillor John Lancaster asked about the criteria for progressing to subsequent phases of the corridor and the post-project evaluation. Officers explained that funding is secured through a five-year regional programme, with each phase needing to demonstrate benefits. Ongoing funding is subject to meeting agreed criteria, and while phases are distinct, they are designed to be integrated.
• Quantitative Success Metrics: Councillor Lancaster and Councillor Andrea Gibson sought clarification on the specific criteria used to measure the success of the scheme, expressing a desire for more hard quantitative data beyond public perception. Officers indicated that criteria include road casualty reduction, bus journey times, and feedback from public engagement, but acknowledged the request for more quantitative data, such as bike counters.
• Project Timeline and Disruption: Councillor Andrea Gibson inquired about the project timeline and efforts to minimise disruption, particularly around Christmas periods. Officers stated that construction is anticipated to start in early 2027 to avoid major events and to tie in with other city centre construction projects.
• Consultation with Disability Groups: Councillor Andrea Gibson asked about ongoing consultation with disability groups. Officers confirmed that regular meetings are held with various accessibility and cycling groups, and that extensive stakeholder engagement has been undertaken.
• Critical Tipping Point for Mode Shift: Councillor Owen Jones, Chair of the committee, questioned whether there was a critical distance or point along the corridor where the cycle lane would significantly tip the balance for people to switch from cars to cycling. Officers explained that this is influenced by trip attractors such as employment sites and that as the network expands, secondary routes will encourage more people to cycle. They acknowledged the difficulty in modelling origin and destination surveys for this specific corridor but agreed to consider incorporating questions about mode shift encouragement into future transport surveys.
• Maintenance and Services: During a closed session, questions were raised about the maintenance of the area and potential service failures. Officers reported that the tendering process includes a 12-month defects period, and liaison with parks departments for ongoing maintenance of green spaces is in place. Budgets for ongoing maintenance are expected to be carried forward.

The committee resolved to make comments and observations to the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Planning & Transport, requesting further details on the criteria for judging the scheme's success and a fuller list of quantitative metrics.

The committee also noted that there were no urgent items to discuss. The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday 2 July 2026. The Chair also took the opportunity to thank Erica Painter, Chief Scrutiny Officer, for her service on the occasion of her retirement.