Planned children’s role play centre could be given the go-ahead by Vale Council

Tuesday, 23 June 2026 16:54

By Kieran Molloy, Local Democracy Reporter

A new children’s “role play centre” could be coming to the Vale of Glamorgan if council planners give the go-ahead.

Starburst (UK) has asked the council for permission to convert an existing building in Windmill Parc, Barry into a children’s role play centre.

Planning documents read: “The role play centre shall be operated by The Roll Up Ltd and will comprise a similar premises to their established facility in Pontyclun.”

It continues: “The role play centre will provide a number of themed role play areas, designed to provide a high-quality ‘learning through play’ environment for children aged 0 to 11. The ancillary café offering will primarily cater to on-site users of the play centre only.”

Operating hours are proposed to be between 9:30 – 18:00 Monday to Saturday and 9:30 – 16:30 on Sundays.

In addition, the applicant said the development would be operated by four staff members, two full-time employees and two part-time workers.

The application reads: “Role play allows children to act out real life situations by providing an opportunity for children to emulate what they see and practice skills.

“This is particularly important for a child’s social and personal development, which increases a child’s ability to positively interact with others, and encourages them to be independent and socially aware.”

According to the applicant, this would be the first facility of its type “this specific type of childcare provision” in the Vale of Glamorgan.

However it acknowledges that “a number of similar children’s amusement/soft play areas/role play facilities” are within the Vale of Glamorgan and wider south Wales.

Eleven parking spaces are currently at the site and plans include a proposal for a designated pedestrian walkway to connect the access gate and separate parking area to the entrance via new zebra crossing points.

The application reads: “In terms of noise, the site is located at the northern-most point of Windmill Park, and so, is not subject to a significant level of industrial noise.

“However, it is likely that any outside noise would be masked internally, by the children playing in any case.

“Notwithstanding, the level of noise generated by the proposed development is considered to not be significant, particularly given the context of the site whereby some level of operational noise is expected. “

A decision on the application is expected in August of this year.

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