Quakers Yard community celebrates £1.3m investment to transform Victorian gasworks into green community space
The local Quakers Yard community is celebrating the completion of a £1.3 million environmental improvement project that has transformed a former Victorian gasworks site into a welcoming community and biodiversity space.
Wales & West Utilities led the initiative after inheriting the site, located just off Mill Street, in 2005. Originally used to produce town gas from 1878 and later to store north sea gas until the late 1980s, the land has since been carefully restored as part of the company’s ongoing programme to clean up legacy gasworks and safeguard the environment.
Working closely with local representatives and specialists in land remediation, Wales & West Utilities has delivered a wide range of improvements across the 0.54-hectare site, including:
- Re-engineering a section of the riverbank to protect against erosion caused by increasingly fast-flowing waters
- Full turn-over of the site (4,000m3 of soil) and dealing with the contaminated ground.
- Replanting more than 800 native trees and shrubs
- Installing bird and bat boxes to support local wildlife
- Creating hibernacula, bee and bug hotels, kingfisher nest boxes, and an otter holt
- Providing two benches for walkers and cyclists
- Installing information boards to share the site’s history and biodiversity
At the event to mark the completion, Alan Smith, Land Management Officer from Wales & West Utilities, said:
“We are proud to have worked in collaboration with the local community and partner organisations to ensure people continue to enjoy this beautiful area of land.
“The site presented some of the most significant environmental challenges we have faced, being located at the foot of a steep valley and bounded by the Taff Bargoed river, with a cycle path and footpath running through it. Our team has worked sensitively to ensure the improvements enhance the natural habitat, rather than disturb it.
“We are delighted that the work is now complete with positive results that are testament to the dedication of all involved. We hope the environmental improvements will continue to benefit the community and wildlife for many years to come.”
Councillor Gareth Richards expressed his gratitude to Wales & West Utilities and their partners, and said:
“This project is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when communities and companies work together.
“The transformation of this old gasworks site into a space that both people and wildlife can enjoy is something we can all be proud of. I’d like to thank Wales & West Utilities for their commitment and investment, which will bring lasting benefits to Quakers Yard for generations to come.”
Wales & West Utilities is the gas emergency and pipeline service, delivering energy to over 7.5 million people across Wales and the south west of England. We don’t sell gas; we transport it through an extensive underground network of more than 35,000 kilometres of pipes. Our priority is to maintain and operate this network safely and reliably—keeping homes and businesses warm today and for generations to come.