A series of high-profile concerts in Cardiff’s Blackweir Fields, featuring international stars such as Stevie Wonder and Noah Kahan, went ahead earlier this year despite lacking the appropriate planning permissions, a recent council report has confirmed. The event series, titled Blackweir Live, also included performances by Alanis Morissette and legendary metal act Slayer, drawing in tens of thousands of music fans to the city’s green space.
The revelation, now brought to light by Cardiff Council’s investigation, has put the spotlight on event organisers Depot Live and Cuffe and Taylor. Although the gigs were widely celebrated by attendees and promoters alike, describing the run as a “huge success”, the events attracted local criticism for their impact on public access, noise, and surrounding road traffic.
In its recently published findings, the council clarified that neither a formal application for planning permission nor a certificate of lawfulness—an official document used to determine if planning consent is needed—had been filed prior to the concerts. According to the document, organisers risked proceeding without legal certainty, a move that may have implications for how future events are handled on such public land in Cardiff.
The controversy can be traced back to when tickets for the gigs hit the market before the necessary licencing approval was in place to host up to 35,000 people on Blackweir Fields. After the relevant licence was eventually granted, more than 90 local campaigners, including environmentalists and community leaders, signed an open letter voicing concern over the use of a park that had been publicly gifted to the city in 1947. Their main argument was the temporary loss of communal space for Cardiff’s residents.
Council representatives, however, have maintained that the event series would bring a significant economic benefit to Cardiff, with projections of an estimated £35 million boost to the local economy. The council had pledged these funds would be reinvested to enhance parks and to support grassroots music initiatives across the capital.
A key aspect of the council’s report centres around planning laws that limit the temporary usage of public parks. Under existing regulations, parks in Cardiff can only be appropriated for alternative uses, such as major events, for up to 28 days per year without additional planning permissions. However, the report notes that the duration of the Blackweir Live events—including set-up and break-down—extended to 37 days.
Council officers noted that organisers seemed to have assumed no such permission was needed, believing the core event days would fall within the permitted window. Yet, with the extended presence of fencing, equipment, and site structures, the cumulative disruption exceeded lawful limits, posing a clear regulatory breach.
The situation in Cardiff echoes a recent High Court judgement concerning a similar case in Lambeth, London, where a council was found not to have had proper planning consent for prolonged use of Brockwell Park. Cardiff Council has stated it is now taking this legal precedent into account as it reviews its own approach to public events.
Despite acknowledging the breach, Cardiff Council decided not to take retrospective enforcement action against the promoters. Officials described the infraction as “limited” and argued that formal legal proceedings would not be expedient or in the public interest, particularly as the site was cleared ahead of schedule and the events themselves remained within the 28-day limit.
A council spokesperson explained that decisions about planning enforcement are entirely separate from event licencing procedures. “While the setup and breakdown did exceed temporary event guidelines, the concerts themselves were compliant. The council has undertaken a full review in line with governance procedures and opted not to pursue formal action,” the spokesperson said, adding that any future proposals for events exceeding the 28-day usage limit will require full planning permission.
This incident now serves as a catalyst for broader scrutiny and potential policy changes regarding public land use for large gatherings, balancing the cultural and economic benefits of major events against the need for regulatory compliance and community impact. As Cardiff looks ahead to hosting more large-scale concerts, both the council and event planners will be under greater pressure to adhere to planning legislation and maintain transparency with the local population.