Abandoned Cardiff Bay wasteland could be site for hundreds of new homes

The latest plans have been announced for the redevelopment of a Cardiff Bay site which has sat empty for years after an ambitious regeneration stalled for years before collapsing. Cardiff Council appointed a new master developer for the "Peninsula" site, on land south-east of the International Sports Village, after the ill-fated Cardiff Pointe project (first approved in 2013) ground to a halt.

By the time developers pulled out, only 99 of Cardiff Pointe's proposed 561 homes were built. The development, associated with the nearby Vindico Arena (formerly Ice Arena Wales) and neighbouring affordable housing, had "stagnated for a number of years" and by 2021 large swathes of the site were left completely undeveloped. You can read more about that here.

In January 2024, new plans for the area (dubbed the Peninsula scheme) were revealed by Cardiff Peninsula Consortium, led by Orion Land and Leisure. Now, the updated outline masterplan has been published detailing the latest proposals for the area ahead of a second consultation with residents. For the latest Cardiff news, sign up to our newsletter here.

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The current masterplan includes 1,003 homes (a mix of townhouses and apartments) predominantly in five higher-rise buildings on the Bay waterfront and a further 306 as co-living apartments nearby. The development would also include a 216-room luxury hotel, retail and commercial space, offices, six landscaped public spaces, completion of the existing boardwalk, and car parking.

The consortium has been consulting with local stakeholders and a spokesperson said: "We have such an amazing location, currently unsightly and unused, that does not work for existing local residents, guests and people of Cardiff. We have worked extensively with many different groups to improve the new plan for Cardiff Peninsula, and we want to hear people’s views."

Cardiff Council appointed the consortium as master developer in September 2023 and the consortium is now required to deliver an outline masterplan planning application and a detailed application for 'Plot 1' by September 2024. Plot 1 comprises the land currently used for parking between Cardiff Pointe and Cardiff International White Water and is earmarked for a "later living" scheme for people typically aged 60 or older looking to downsize and live nearby other older residents.

Construction on Plot 1 is expected to start potentially as early as Q2 2025 and the consortium says it will include 77 "extra-care" (assisted living) apartments in a lower rise building on the River Ely waterfront. Two phases of "meanwhile uses" for the Peninsula site are planned while longer-term plans are prepared; the first would see padel tennis courts and associated food and drink outlets in a "boxpark" style and is expected to be operational this summer.

There will be a consultation event at the Vindico Arena from May 15 to May 17 for the public to give feedback on the proposals. The event will run from 2pm to 8pm on Wednesday, May 15 and Thursday, May 16 and from 9am to midday on Friday, May 17.

A number of changes were made after the last consultation event including changes to vehicle access and parking. Details of these changes, as well as more images and information about the project, can be found on the official website here.