Cardiff drivers will see speed limits on four key streets changed back to 30mph after the city’s review of the Welsh Government’s Default 20mph Scheme and the legal sealing of Traffic Regulation Orders.
Which streets will change and why
Following a detailed reassessment prompted by the Welsh Government’s 2024 listening exercise, Cardiff Council has identified parts of Newport Road, Western Avenue, Ocean Way and Hadfield Road for reclassification from 20mph to 30mph. The changes will take effect only after associated works — including replacement signage, adjustments to street lighting and resurfacing where needed — are completed.
- Newport Road: will return to 30mph except for the section outside St Illtyd’s Catholic School, which will remain at 20mph.
- Western Avenue: a section west of the Taff River Bridge will revert to 30mph.
- Ocean Way: will be 30mph from its junction with Beignon Close to Rover Way, with the stretch beside Ocean Park Sports Complex staying at 20mph.
- Hadfield Road: will return to 30mph between Leckwith Road and Penarth Road.
The modifications follow the council’s use of updated Welsh Government guidance, which gives local authorities more flexibility to judge a road’s movement function and physical characteristics alongside community needs.
“Following our extensive review of public feedback on the Default 20mph Scheme, the Traffic Regulation Orders have now been legally sealed, and work will begin next week to implement the 30mph speed limits on these four ro
Scope of the council’s reassessment
Between April and the end of August 2024, Cardiff Council received 933 individual requests from residents or organisations asking that specific roads be reconsidered for a return to 30mph. Using the Welsh Government’s revised guidance and its supporting assessment tool, the council re-examined 192 roads in total. The four streets announced are the first to be amended following the legal processes and preparatory works.
| Road | Section affected | Final limit |
|---|---|---|
| Newport Road | Most of the route (school frontage exempt) | 30mph (20mph by St Illtyd’s School) |
| Western Avenue | Section west of Taff River Bridge | 30mph |
| Ocean Way | Beignon Close to Rover Way (sports complex excluded) | 30mph (20mph adjacent to Ocean Park Sports Complex) |
| Hadfield Road | Between Leckwith Road and Penarth Road | 30mph |
What residents should expect
Council officials say implementation will follow once the physical works are finished. Motorists should expect new signs and road markings to appear, together with any necessary lighting upgrades or resurfacing. Where 20mph limits are being retained, such as outside schools and sports facilities, the council has emphasised those protections will remain in place.
The council’s response to nearly a thousand representations indicates an effort to balance road safety aims with local movement needs. Residents seeking updates on timing for the works or the detailed assessment for a specific street should consult Cardiff Council’s transport webpages or contact the council’s highways team directly.
Further adjustments could follow as the council continues to work through the roads assessed under the revised guidance.
