Riverside Plaza, Pontypridd
A planting scheme for an underutilised, highly constrained urban riverfront transformed into a cohesive green gateway
Project information
Client
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
Location
Taff Street, Pontypridd, South Wales
The Challenge
The site presented a complex set of environmental, structural, and ecological constraints that demanded careful design integration. The challenge was to provide a planting scheme for an underutilised, highly constrained urban riverfront into a cohesive green gateway that seamlessly links the town centre, the river, and the surrounding parkland. To achieve this, we had to address significant physical and environmental obstacles across the site. We were tasked with designing an effective flood mitigation and sustainable drainage strategy to manage surface water run-off along the River Taff without relying on hard, intrusive infrastructure. Furthermore, the site lacked existing quality habitat, was impacted by invasive species like Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam, and required sensitive ecological measures to safeguard nearby river habitats and bat corridors. We also had to overcome severe subterranean structural limitations, including varied ground levels and shallow substrate depths down to 610mm, which prevented standard in-ground tree pit construction and required creative technical solutions
Our Role
As the landscape architects for the Taff Street Landscape Strategy in Pontypridd, we developed a comprehensive green infrastructure and landscape design strategy for the former Marks & Spencer riverfront and Southern Gateway. Our work focused on creating a resilient framework that reconnects the town centre with the River Taff. We established a spatial concept that transitions from a formal urban public realm along Taff Street to an organic, naturalised riverside habitat. A core element of our responsibilities involved integrating Sustainable Drainage Systems directly into the softworks scheme through rain gardens, bio-retention features, permeable paving, and attenuation. Additionally, we specified native, species-rich planting mixes designed to enhance local biodiversity and overcome site constraints using underground tree cell systems, mounding, and specialised planters.
The Outcome
The resulting strategy establishes a multi-functional public realm that harmoniously combines urban utility with ecological re-wilding. By introducing dedicated riparian planting, green walls, and water meadow species, the design provides vital stepping-stone habitats for local fauna while eliminating invasive growth. The integrated Sustainable Drainage Systems effectively reduce flood risk, filter surface water run-off, and improve water quality before it reaches the river. Ultimately, the scheme restores the connection between Pontypridd's town centre and its natural riverfront setting, providing an accessible green space that supports community health, well-being, and biodiversity.
