Cardiff Council has confirmed that sections of four city roads will return to a 30mph speed limit following a detailed review of the Welsh Government’s Default 20mph Scheme. Implementation work, including new signage, changes to street lighting and resurfacing, is due to start this week.
Roads affected and retained 20mph sections
The roads selected for partial reversion to 30mph are Newport Road, Western Avenue, Ocean Way and Hadfield Road. In each case, certain stretches will remain at 20mph to protect pedestrians and sensitive locations.
- Newport Road: largely returning to 30mph, except outside St Illtyd’s Catholic School which will remain 20mph.
- Western Avenue: the section west of the Taff River Bridge will revert to 30mph.
- Ocean Way: 30mph from the junction with Beignon Close to Rover Way, with the stretch beside the Ocean Park Sports Complex remaining 20mph.
- Hadfield Road: 30mph between Leckwith Road and Penarth Road junctions.
The decisions follow a reassessment process carried out after the Welsh Government issued updated guidance last year giving councils more discretion to judge roads on movement function, physical characteristics and local community needs.
Scale of requests and reassessments
Between April and the end of August 2024, Cardiff Council recorded 933 requests from the public for roads to be considered for a return to 30mph. Using the revised Welsh Government assessment tool, officers reassessed 192 roads, of which the four routes named above were identified for partial reversion.
| Metric | Number |
|---|---|
| Public requests received (Apr–Aug 2024) | 933 |
| Roads reassessed | 192 |
Council comment and safety rationale
“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 routes.”
The quotation above is from Dan De’Ath, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Planning and Transport. He underlined that the council still views the 20mph policy as beneficial for safety in residential areas and around schools, where lower speeds reduce the likelihood and seriousness of collisions.
What this means for drivers and residents
Drivers should expect changes to signs and road markings while the works are carried out; the council has indicated these will include lighting adjustments and resurfacing on the affected stretches. Pedestrians, school communities and local businesses should note that protective 20mph zones will remain in place where vulnerability is a concern, for example outside St Illtyd’s Catholic School and adjacent to Ocean Park Sports Complex.
Further detail about timetables, temporary traffic management or any lane closures was not provided in the council statement accompanying the legal sealing of the Traffic Regulation Orders. Residents seeking more information should consult Cardiff Council’s transport or highways pages for updates on the works schedule and any consultation follow-ups.
The decision illustrates how local authorities are applying the Welsh Government’s revised guidance to balance road safety aims with the movement needs of major routes through the city.
