The First Minister has approved plans to build a new mainline railway station in eastern Cardiff.

The developers behind Cardiff Parkway had been waiting for a decision after the original planning application was called in for review by the Welsh government in October 2022.

Eluned Morgan confirmed that she was granting planning permission in a letter sent to Cardiff Parkway Developments, which is overseeing the project in the St Mellons area of the city.

The Welsh government has been asked to comment.

Cardiff Parkway will include a railway station with four platforms and a business park.

Developers had hoped the staion would be operational by 2024, but the planning process was dogged by delays.

Plans were approved by Cardiff council in April 2022, but the broader national interest in the project led the Welsh government to review the application.

Earlier this month, Cardiff’s Labour council leader, Huw Thomas, criticised the “inexplicable” and “indefensible” time taken by the Welsh government to make a decision.

The Welsh government has a minority stake in the organisation, with Investec and the Roberts family.