Cardiff Bay

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Cardiff Bay

Cardiff Bay (Welsh: Bae Caerdydd) is the regeneration area created by the Cardiff Barrage which impounded two rivers (Taff and Ely) to form a new freshwater lake around the former dockland area south of the city centre of Cardiff in south Wales.

1 The History of Cardiff Bay
2 Successes and failures
- 2.1 Aborted Schemes
3 Cardiff Bay Today and Looking Ahead
4 See also
- 4.1 External links

[edit] The History of Cardiff Bay

The Cardiff Bay Development Corporation was created in 1987 to stimulate the redevelopment of the run down areas of Tiger Bay and Butetown. Since the early 20th century, when the city was the world's largest coal merchants port, Cardiff's docklands had been in decline. By the 1980s they were a mass of empty land and abandoned buildings and had become an embarrassment to the city as it tried to become an international capital. The Development Corporation aimed to attract private capital by spending public money to improve the area. Despite opposition by environmentalists and wildlife organisations, the mud flats at the mouths of the River Taff and River Ely were inundated, with loss of habitat for wading birds. The barrage has created several new habitats for freshwater species with a growing wetlands habitat at the mouth of the Taff to the south of the Hamadryad Park.

[edit] Successes and failures

When the Development Corporation was wound up in March 2000, it had achieved many of its objectives. The whole area was unrecognisable from just ten years before. Much private land was now open to the public, particularly around the inner habour and the north side of Roath basin, although the walkway across the barrage remains incomplete, to the dismay of some. Private capital had come from many sources: insurance company Atradius, hotelier Rocco Forte, many housebuilders and retailers. New homes and jobs had been created, the National Assembly for Wales was based in the Bay, the barrage had created a world-class environment. In addition the development had promoted growth in the main city centre. New apartments were built, the Millennium Stadium and retail centres.

[edit] Aborted Schemes

Cardiff Bay Opera House, designed by Zaha Hadid in a competition.

[edit] Cardiff Bay Today and Looking Ahead

The Wales Millennium Centre, seen from Roald Dahl Plass

The waterfront, its restaurants and twinkling waters are an undoubted draw for visitors with figures from the turn of the century indicating roughly 2 million visitors per year. Since then, this has likely risen considerably following the completion of many new attractions. Since its redevelopment, Cardiff Bay has also become a fashionable venue for media-hungry events and exhibitions. The Bay has hosted the start of several boating and yachting events, and has acquired a cachet for international events. The area thrives by day, but also comes alive at night with its maze of clubs and up-market restaurants.

Arguably, Cardiff Bay has become a tour de force of post-modern civic design, and it is well known not only throughout the UK as an interesting destination, but also internationally for its regeneration and important new architecture. Together with the London Docklands it is recognised as one of the UK's main urban regeneration 'success stories'. Many Heritage buildings have also been retained, particuarly around Mount Stuart Square, and the Bay area possesses a distinctive character reminiscent of both old and new Cardiff. However praise is not universal and some developments are criticised for being under-ambitious and suburban, in particular Lloyd George Avenue, Mermaid Quay and the Red Dragon Centre. At the time these developments took place though, it is difficult to ascertain whether higher density / more ambitious proposals were feasible, and the critical mass these early developments provided was a crucial factor enabling the later developments that make the older ones appear out-dated.

Whilst known as a leisure and entertainment district, the single largest source of investment has been residential and the housing constructed is of generally high density, in keeping with the government's plans for brownfield development. Some have misgivings about this arguing that it is preventing the development of a true community, including young families in the bay area. House prices are high by local, although not national standards, and with many of the properties snapped up by 'buy to let' speculators, first time buyers are not as common as they young age profile would suggest. Some have argued that some of the housing developments, particularly in the early Atlantic Wharf projects are of low quality, and worry that these districts may enter a period of slow decline. Later residential developments on the bay itself are generally seen to be of higher quality. To date, some 8000 housing units have been constructed and there are a further 3000 units (approx) either under construction or proposed through to 2013 across the former Cardiff Bay Development Corporation district with most to be constructed on the Ferry Road Peninsula (Bay Pointe), to the north of Century Wharf and south of Roath Basin.

Cardiff Bay's profile as an office location has long been disappointing given initial job creation targets. Current office space across the former CBDC is approximately 170,000 square metres, with about 75,000 in the 'bay proper'. New proposals for development at both Capital Waterside and Roath Basin Southside will together provide over 160,000 square metres of class A office space and facilities targeted at the biosciences and the media and creative industries. It should be noted that this is scheduled to take place over several years with the first phase at Capital Waterside likely to be 6,000 square metres. Smaller developments include Merchant Place (10,000 square metres), the Coal Exchange (3,000 square metres) and new constructions in Ocean Park totalling 12,000 square metres. Callaghan Square, closer to the city centre, has a total of 16,000 square metres under construction with another 18,000 proposed.

The proposed International Sports Village (ISV) on the Ferry Road peninsula has progressed less quickly than originally hoped and completion in time to be used as a 2012 Olympic training venue is now in doubt given Cardiff's failure in its bid for the "Super Casino" licence. The density of housing and retail elements have been scaled up, reflecting commercial necessities, and in ensure a mix-used scheme that makes best use of the minimal available space left to develop in the bay area; however, it has been pointed out that these have entailed a scaling-back of some aspects of the proposed development (such as an athletics stadium). At present the only buildings completed or under construction include a Morrisons superstore, the largest Toys-r-Us in Europe, and temporary timber framed ice rink that replaces the one demolished as part of the St Davids II development in the city centre. Construction of a 50m pool and leisure water complex is well under way, and completion of this, together with the proposed "Welsh National Canoe and Rafting Centre" is scheduled to take place in 2007, at which time the main residential element will commence over a 6 year time-frame. The construction of the two superstores has been criticised by some quarters as 'unwanted and unnecessary', however it can also be argued that both meet an identifiable need; Morrisons, by reducing the dominance of Tesco and Asda on the local grocery market; and Toys-R-Us by replacing the demolished store in the city-centre.

[edit] Tourism and exhibitions

St David's Hotel & Spa, a 5-star world class hotel. [1]
Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre, a portable building known locally as 'The Tube'. [2] [3]
the Pierhead Building, ex-HQ of the Bute Dock Company, a large elaborately detailed, Grade 1 Listed, red brick building built in 1897. [4] [5] [6] It houses the Visitor Centre for the Welsh Assembly.
National Assembly for Wales
Cardiff Bay Sea-Train, a miniature railway to show tourists around the Bay and the Docklands.

[edit] Cultural and Arts

Wales Millennium Centre for the Performing Arts.
Norwegian Church Arts Centre, a rescued and rebuilt historic wooden church. [7] [8]
Techniquest, an entertaining, educational science centre mainly for schoolchildren. [9]
Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve, a coastal marsh with rare species and public walkways. [10]
Roald Dahl Plass, a large open amphitheatre hosting carnivals and festivals in the summer.

[edit] Water-based attractions

the Water bus, which offers a public transport service and tourist cruises. [11]
Cardiff Bay Barrage, accessible via the Water Bus, is free to explore and also has guided tours.
the Helwick Lightship, a restored old lightship with a cafe.
Queen Alexandra Dock
several smaller docks with landscaped seating areas and bridges, and views across the Bay.
numerous small private yachts and fishing boats moored within the Bay.

[edit] Commercial and nightlife

themed bars and restaurants at Mermaid Quay. [12]
style-conscious shops.
The Point, a popular club and live music venue.
The Coal Exchange (aka The Exchange Centre), a venue for staged events.
Harry Ramsden's fish and chip bar - a large, prominent building.
Bosphorus a Turkish restaurant offering a panoramic bay view
Cardiff Bay Ice Rink
Cardiff International Sports Village (under construction), possibly the site of the UKs first regional super casino. [13]
Red Dragon Centre (formerly Atlantic Wharf Leisure Village), a large shopping and commercial development. [14]
Atlantic Wharf, the area surrounding the refurbished Bute East Dock, with modern residential and commercial developments, and Cardiff County Hall.