WQ85665 (w) Tabled on 12/07/2022

Will the Minister provide more information on the Down to Earth Project receiving £895,000 from the Rural Development Fund for the work that it is doing on the Meadows / Felindre and Llandough?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd | Answered on 20/07/2022

The ‘Fit for the Future: Green Hospital Infrastructure and Outdoor Healthcare’ project delivered by Down to Earth, was awarded grant funding under the Enabling Natural Resources and Well-being (ENRaW) Scheme as part of the Wales Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.

Working in partnership with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Velindre Cancer Centre, Velindre University NHS Trust and Public Health Wales, the project aims to show the potential of transforming entire hospital campuses to be exemplar sustainable green infrastructure demonstrators through nature-based solutions.

The project is delivering two major schemes:

  • The design of the new Velindre cancer centre, embedding natural and sustainable construction methods, enhancing the well-being of patients, enhancing biodiversity and showcasing low carbon, natural construction at national infrastructure scale.  The project is supporting the co-design of the hospital with key stakeholders including patients, staff, and the local community.
  • The design and development of a 7-acre outdoor health care and rehabilitation facility at University Hospital Llandough. The project works with patients, the staff and the local community in the co-design, construction, and use of a flagship outdoor health care facility.

The project is expected to be completed by September 2023. External evaluators have been appointed to assess the different elements of the project outcomes and a final report will be delivered prior to the project end date.