**Overnight Construction Noise at Velindre Cancer Centre Project Draws Residents’ Ire**
Residents of Whitchurch, Cardiff, have expressed growing frustration after a series of sleepless nights caused by loud horns and persistent noise from overnight construction at the new Velindre Cancer Centre site. With the development recently shifting to around-the-clock operations, the disturbance has fuelled anger in the local community and led to demands for greater consideration from both contractors and hospital management.
The £200 million cancer centre, touted as a “vital, world-class facility” set to significantly modernise cancer care in south-east Wales, has already been the subject of delays. Initially anticipated to open to patients in 2024, unforeseen setbacks mean doors are now expected to open in 2027. These delays have seemingly exacerbated tensions between residents and those overseeing the project.
According to many locals, the decision to work through the night—citing recent bouts of unusually warm daytime temperatures—has come at the expense of community wellbeing. Among those impacted, Keisha Morgan-Allwood described the ordeal, stating: “It was disgusting last night with the horns going off until the early hours in the morning. People like myself have work the next day. I only had a few hours sleep and now have a banging ear ache.” Her comments seem to echo a broader sentiment amongst the neighbourhood.
Wendy Slater, another resident, voiced her alarm at the insensitivity of the operation: “It really doesn’t take into consideration anyone who is ill, vulnerable, has PTSD, or is autistic.” The issue for many is not simply the inconvenience but the potential health ramifications and disproportionate impact on those most in need of quiet and rest.
In an act of desperation, resident Matt Slater recounted his own attempts to address the issue after failing to report the noise through the usual official channels. “Last night I tried 101 and you can’t report it unless you are at risk, so then I tried council environmental noise—they can’t help unless you have a confirmed location. So I went up there at 1.55am and asked them to stop. They were polite enough and they knew it was making a noise but not to realise the degree of disturbance they were making is pretty ridiculous.” His experience speaks to a common feeling that residents’ concerns are being dismissed or ignored.
In response, Velindre issued a public apology, acknowledging the disruption and vowing to take steps to avoid a repeat. A spokesperson for the cancer centre said, “We sincerely apologise for the disruption caused by the construction works last night, including disturbance caused by a loud horn. We understand that the works had a significant impact on nearby residents, and we deeply regret any inconvenience caused.” They admitted that technical issues prevented advance notice being posted online, and said they have since instructed the construction team to seek quieter methods of communication at night.
Officials stressed that the overnight work was deemed necessary to pour concrete safely during a spell of high temperatures, which they argued could otherwise cause structural issues such as cracking. Furthermore, they informed residents that extended hours would continue on three specific dates in early May, with work scheduled to begin from 6pm and in some cases running through until 8am. However, they assured residents that every effort would be made to minimise disturbance.
Nevertheless, some community members dismissed the apology as inadequate, interpreting the response more as a justification than a true expression of regret. Questions have also been raised about whether the project should maintain its registration with the “Considerate Constructors Scheme”, which aims to promote responsible building practices in occupied neighbourhoods.
The new hospital, when complete, is expected to replace the existing Velindre Cancer Centre—first opened more than 68 years ago—which serves as the regional hub for non-surgical cancer care. The redevelopment will introduce updated technologies and enhanced treatment spaces, promising to reshape radiotherapy services in Wales for generations to come.
With at least two more years of construction ahead, residents and the hospital trust alike face the challenge of balancing essential infrastructure improvements with respect for community health and wellbeing. The situation serves as a reminder of the sometimes difficult trade-offs inherent in major public works projects, particularly when they must proceed under challenging environmental or technical circumstances.
Despite the disruption, Velindre’s management remains adamant that clear communication and neighbourly consideration will be prioritised moving forward. Whether this will be enough to restore goodwill among frustrated residents remains to be seen as the next critical phase of construction gets underway.