Persimmon hosts Wales’ First Minister in collaboration with local primary school

This week, East Wales region, welcomed Wales’ First Minister and other key stakeholders in a collaborative effort with Creigiau Primary School to enhance community spaces at its site in Cardiff.

The event hosted by East Wales region saw the participation of notable figures including Mark Drakeford MS, Cardiff West MP Kevin Brennan, Cardiff Council's Cabinet Member for Planning, Cllr Dan De'Ath, and Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry.

Focused on improving community spaces, the partnership with Creigiau Primary School centred on designing playgrounds for Persimmon’s nearby Llanilltern site. Workshops throughout the day engaged pupils in creative exercises centred around 'clayscapes' and water themes, inspired by Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS).

As part of the project, Persimmon has also developed a toolkit on SUDS for educational use, enriching the learning experience for children. This toolkit will be distributed to Creigiau Primary School and other local institutions, facilitating hands-on learning about sustainable drainage design.

Commenting on the event, Persimmon East Wales’ Managing Director, Lee Hawker, said:

"We were delighted to welcome the First Minister, Kevin Brennan MP, Cllr Merry, and Cllr De’Ath to Creigiau this week for a project which underscores our commitment to delivering quality homes and fostering a positive legacy in Creigiau.

“We're dedicated to crafting sustainable spaces that enrich the local community, and witnessing the children’s creativity firsthand was fantastic.

“On behalf of Persimmon, I would like to thank everyone involved in the project, particularly our local artists who have overseen the initiative.

“We eagerly anticipate incorporating the children’s innovative ideas into the development of parks and open spaces within the Parish development in Llanilltern.”

The project is part of a larger scheme involving the construction of over 1,000 homes and various community facilities, including a primary school, retail outlets, offices, and sports fields. Persimmon’s outreach work was overseen by Studio Response and local artists Amanda Spence and Rhian Thomas.

In recognition of the school's participation, Persimmon Homes provided toolkits and equipment for classroom educational activities on sustainability, with plans underway to distribute the toolkit to other local schools shortly.