Plans by Welsh Water to bring one of the capital's best-loved landmarks back to life have been formally approved by Cardiff Council.
The not-for-profit water company, which acquired the 999-year lease for the Victorian-era site in 2016, now has the green light to create a visitor hub on the site, along with an array of leisure facilities.
The approval comes after the company carried out a pre-planning application consultation with local residents, which saw nearly 2,000 responses with an approval rating for the proposals of more than 85%, while only 5% objected to the plans.
As part of the company’s ambitious environmental plans, the design of the visitor centre incorporates features to improve its green credentials and reduce its carbon footprint - including the installation of photovoltaic (solar) panels, the use of 'green gas' and provision for more electric car charging points.
Welsh Water's plans would bring back sailing to the reservoir, along with an array of watersports including windsurfing, stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, and electric picnic boats.
At the northern end of the site, the company will create a visitor hub with spectacular views across both reservoirs. The two-storey building will feature changing rooms, showers and toilets for watersports, as well as meeting and training rooms for local community use, and a café with views across the reservoirs.
It would also turn the site into an education hub - creating a Learning Zone with Welsh roundhouse, ranger-led education activities, and work experience opportunities.
The reservoirs have two designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for waxcap fungi and overwintering birds. As a company committed to conservation and biodiversity it has included a number of ecological proposals in its plans including creating a Winter Conservation Zone with floating islands on Lisvane reservoir to protect birds, bird hides on the embankment, and a Conservation Zone in Gwern-y-Bendy Woods.
Welsh Water has spent much of the last four years carrying out restorative works at the site, and began refilling Llanishen Reservoir in 2019.
It carried out a pre-planning application in August 2020, which saw more than 1,800 responses from local residents and partner organisations, with 86% approving the plans.
Pete Perry, Welsh Water Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to see the formal approval of our plans for Lisvane and Llanishen, which will bring this cherished community asset back to its former glory and more.
"The response to our pre-planning application was an amazing endorsement of the importance of these reservoirs to the wider area, and we're heartened that that we can now deliver the fantastic plans we have set out. As a not-for-profit company, we are owned on behalf of our customers - and we want to create a sustainable hub that everyone can enjoy.
"We would encourage everyone with an interest to get in touch with us to register as a Friends of Lisvane and Llanishen, so they can help with conservation management activities to protect and enhance the unique ecology of the site."
- You can find more information about our plans on our website here: Lisvane and Llanishen.