Eleven parks and green spaces throughout Cardiff could be permanently protected from future development if council proposals are agreed.

Cardiff council is proposing to enter into a legal agreement known as ‘deed of dedication’ with Fields In Trust, an independent UK-wide charity dedicated to the protection of parks and green spaces.

The charity legally protects individual parks from development, ensuring they remain publicly accessible green spaces.

Whilst the parks would be protected from being sold for development, Cardiff council would be able to make changes to the park if they encouraged outdoor leisure and recreation.

One exception to rule would be development under statutory powers. A limited number of organisations have statutory development rights that override the rights of landowners.

The 11 parks chosen are Cemetery Park – Adamsdown, Craiglee Drive – Butetown, Trelai Park – Caerau, Sanatorium Park – Canton, Rhydypenau Park – Cyncoed, Fairwater Park – Fairwater, Hailey Park – Llandaff North, Parc Waun Fach – Pentwyn, Westfield Park – Pentyrch & St Fagans, Heol Llanishen Fach – Rhiwbina and Caerleon Park – Trowbridge.

The parks were chosen by the council based on a number of criteria, including areas of the city with the lowest level of available green spaces, higher levels of poverty and areas that do not already have protected sites and open spaces designed for play, sport and active recreation.

For Fields In Trust to sign the agreement, the parks must also measure at least 0.2 hectares in size, have a permanent public access feature, and it must have the potential to be used for informal physical activity and recreation, or formal sport.

Council leader, Cllr Huw Thomas, says: “Cardiff wouldn’t be Cardiff without its parks and green spaces – they’re vital places for play and social well being, they connect us with the nature on our doorsteps, support biodiversity, improve the quality of the air we all breathe and can help mitigate some of the worst effects of climate change.”

He goes on to say that by entering this agreement with the charity it will more than double the number of parks protected throughout the capital, and could see almost 70% of the population live within a 10 minutes walk of a protected green space.

The agreement is subject to the results of a six-week public consultation.