New developments and streets in Cardiff will have a distinctive Welsh flavour and should be given names with an historical and local context.

An overwhelming majority of respondents to a consultation on the Council's Street Naming Policy earlier this year believe that the capital's significant historic background and rich cultural heritage should be taken into account when naming new schemes and streets in the city.

More than 60 per cent of people who gave their views agreed with the Council's proposal to work towards parity between the number of Welsh street names and English street names in the city, with the majority feeling that the policy would have a positive effect on the Welsh language.

The intention to give Welsh names only to streets in new developments and to establish an expert panel to advise on these matters, as outlined in the policy, was also commended by the Welsh Language Commissioner, who stated: "This policy provides the perfect opportunity to

coin forms which will educate users about the rich history of the Welsh language in Cardiff."

The Council has statutory responsibilities and powers for street naming, which has a number of important functions including wayfinding, efficient delivery of mail and ensuring emergency services can locate properties quickly. Street naming is also a key element of place-making and is important in the context of the council's commitments to the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, the Welsh Language Standards and Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2016.

Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, Cllr Caro Wild, said: "Ensuring that the names of new streets in the city reflect local heritage and the Welsh language will assist our vision of developing Cardiff as a truly bilingual capital city. Adopting this policy will also see usjoining other enlightened capitals around the world, like Wellington in New Zealand, who are embracing their own heritage bypromoting the Māori language until it has parity with English.

"It's very encouraging that the majority of people who took part in the consultation are in favour of these proposals. The Welsh language is intrinsically linked with the history of Cardiff over the centuries and we already have well-established areas of the city with Welsh-only names - Creigiau, Cyncoed, Plasnewydd, Tongwynlais, to name but a few. 

"By working towards parity between Welsh and English street names as the city continues to grow, we will ensure that Welsh history, culture and language remains an important part of the city's identity."

The Council's current approach to street naming in the city centre, core routes into the centre and around Cardiff Bay is that street naming is bilingual with both Welsh and English street name plates.

The new policy has been developed to provide advice and guidance to developers and existing property owners and sets out the process which should be followed in naming and numbering new developments including consultation with the Bilingual Cardiff Welsh Place/Street Names panel.

The strategy has these main elements:

1. Existing streets in areas considered to be more shared, public spaces such as in the city centre, Cardiff Bay and key roads will become fully bilingual as and when road signs are upgraded
2. Existing street names in residential communities and suburbs of Cardiff will stay as they are in the ‘known' language.
3. New developments and streets will primarily be given Welsh names which reflect local heritage
4. The names of specific individuals may be used where there is an appropriate historic or legacy link.

Cabinet will consider the responses to the consultation on the policy at its next meeting on Thursday, September 26 and is recommended to approve the policy, and recommend to Council that it be adopted.