Cardiff Bay development involving arena approved
The regeneration of Cardiff Bay’s Atlantic Wharf has made a significant step forward now that the first phase, involving a new 17,000-capacity arena and a 182-bedroom hotel, has been approved by the city council.
As well as full permission for these key elements of the scheme, earmarked for a 13.5-hectare site in Butetown, the capital’s planning committee has backed a masterplan comprising:
- up to 890 new dwellings;
- 1,090 hotel bed spaces, 19,500 square metres of employment floorspace;
- 27,500 square metres of leisure activities;
- over 12,000 square metres of retail development; and
- public realm, open space, car-parking and cycling provision.
With Robertson Group as developers and Live Nation and Oak View Group as joint operators, the arena will offer Cardiff the opportunity to host some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry while attracting visitors to the city and generating wider local economic activity for hotels, restaurants, and bars.
Cabinet member for investment and development, Russell Goodway, said: “The Atlantic Wharf masterplan will see significant improvements made to the public realm and to public transport links to the bay. The importance of the new arena cannot be understated – it will kick-start the next phase of regeneration in Cardiff Bay.”
Roger Milne, The Planner
