Plans to complete Cardiff's new International Sports Village are set to take a major step forward after the much-anticipated development was hit by a number of delays. Plans for the huge sports and leisure project were submitted in December 2021, nine years after the council first entered a contract with developers Greenbank to redevelop the area.
The sports village will deliver a range of specialist facilities, including a Central Performance Hub to support athletes across different sports, as well as a new Velodrome, a closed loop circuit and other outdoor leisure and climbing facilities. It will be built alongside a new waterfront, residential and retail district, with the area expected to attract around two million visitors every year.
Cardiff Council's Cabinet is now expected to approve a report outlining the plans as the project gets "back on track" following delays caused by economic downturn and the coronavirus pandemic. Get the latest news from across Cardiff sent straight to your inbox for free by signing up to our newsletter.
Read more: Concern for welfare of mum and two young children missing from Cardiff for more than a week
The report shows plans to power the development using renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and heat recovery. It also contains details of a new park and ride facility to complement the existing International Pool, White Water Rafting Centre, and Ice Arena in Cardiff Bay, as well as the residential and retail district which is hoped will bring new investment to the area.
The council's Cabinet will hear the report at a public meeting on Thursday, January 19, where it will be updated on the development and asked to approve in principle measures concerning both the residential and commercial development and the completion of the sport and leisure attraction.
Among several recommendations made in the report, the Cabinet will be asked to approve a hybrid ‘disposal strategy', which will see it appoint a master developer whilst also seeking to capture the best offer for individual plots of land. The council recently received several expressions of interest and offers for individual plots and the role of master developer after appointing property agents to boost investor interest in the site.
It will also be recommended to approve a full business case for the leisure facilities to be developed, as well as a preferred operator for the Ice Arena, which is set to be partly transformed with a new climbing facility. Part of the arena had been set aside to become a second ice pad, but it has not been used consistently for years due to rising energy costs, making the initial plans "commercially unrealistic". A bespoke 'clip and climb' facility is set to be built in its place, with the family attraction hoped to bring more young people to the area.
The development of a multi-storey car park is also included in the proposals, with a park and ride scheme providing regular bus services to the city centre and the Inner Harbour. The site is also said to lend itself to sustainable travel options including walking and cycling.
Cllr Russell Goodway, Cabinet Member for Investment and Development, said the sports village presented an opportunity to "deliver something special," as he shared his relief at the project getting "back on track". He added that the council now had to secure the right partners for the project, which has "undoubted potential".
"The International Sports Village is a key part of our ambitious plans to establish Cardiff Bay as a leading UK visitor destination," he said. "We believe it could attract up to 2 million visitors a year, helping to bring jobs and economic benefits to Cardiff.
"Key among our aims is to ensure this is a ‘green development' powered by renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and heat recovery from the air, ground, and water. We think there's an opportunity to deliver something special here, which could bring more ‘green' jobs to boost the economy while also helping the council deliver on its One Planet Cardiff commitments."
"We have been out to the market to secure private-sector partners who can help us bring new investment to the area, including residential and retail opportunities alongside the enhanced sports village. The report coming to Cabinet will recommend negotiating with a number of parties to secure contracts."
He added: "The International Sports Village development has been beset by delays caused by the economic downturn and the pandemic, and this has created significant uncertainty for potential investors and for residents. To ensure the ISV can get back on track the Council has secured control of the land required to complete the development and our aim now is to secure the right partners so the ISV can fulfil its undoubted potential."
The project will be scrutinised by the Economy & Culture Scrutiny Committee at 4.30pm on Wednesday, January 18, ahead of the Cabinet meeting at 2pm on January 19 Work to develop a full business case for the development will begin if a recommendation set out in the report is accepted by the Cabinet. You can find more details about the meeting here.
READ NEXT:
Council remains confident Cardiff can reach net zero target by 2030
- Miley Cyrus has shared a photo of Cardiff next to some of the world's biggest cities and people are going wild for it
- Police investigate alleged assault in Cardiff park
- Former airline boss says Cardiff Airport is in the wrong place
Owners of second homes and long-term empty properties in Cardiff could pay up to double council tax
