VELODROME & ZIP-WIRE FOR BAY?
A NEW velodrome, zip-wire tower and one-kilometre closed-loop circuit for runners have been revealed as part of plans to transform part of Cardiff Bay.
Cardiff council announced the latest plans as part of the long development of the International Sport Village.
Development of the area stretches back to the last century and currently includes Cardiff International White Water Rafting Centre, the Ice Arena Wales and the International Swimming Pool.
Now developers and the council want to move the development on, and the site could soon host a number of facilities including:
■ A 333m velodrome with clubhouse and stand;
■ a 1km closed-loop circuit, for cycling, running and scooters/rollerblades;
■ a zip-wire tower;
■ a large bicycle shop;
■ space for potential new adventure sport/leisure attractions;
■ more car parking space; and,
■ food, drink and retail space.
It comes as ambitious plans to transform nearby Atlantic Wharf in Cardiff Bay with more than 1,000 new homes, entertainment and cultural attractions, hotels, offices and a public square were revealed in December.
In 2001 the council set out to “progress the development of the £240m International Sports Village as the centrepiece of Cardiff’s plans to become a regional capital of sporting excellence”.
In 2012, the council entered a “longterm development agreement” with a company called Greenbank Partnership Limited. Part of this involved transferring land to the company.
Since then the new ice arena, to replace the one lost by the St David’s shopping centre, and around 250 homes have been built by the firm.
But the council said “since 2018 further development has stalled”. Now, it added, discussions with Greenbank are ongoing “regarding their respective land interests”.
It includes “negotiating” a land transaction with Greenbank to make progress on the Cardiff Pointe residential scheme.
At a cabinet meeting on March 18 they will consider a report seeking approval of the master plan.
The latest council document says “at this stage, as the council is only committing to the delivery of the velodrome track facility and is not seeking authority to deliver any other aspect of the masterplan”.
BusinessLive reported that Cardiff council was due to consider the masterplan at a meeting last night when it would be asked to give council officers the authority to deliver the new velodrome and to continue to negotiate a land deal to allow the plans to progress.
Once a detailed business and funding case has been completed, communities will be consulted on the masterplan as part of the planning process.
Cabinet member for investment and development Russell Goodway said: “The council started the regeneration of this land in the Bay in 1999. It has proven to be a complex, long-term project involving extensive land reclamation and remediation works and significant infrastructure investment.
“However, these new plans could see a velodrome opened by 2022 and a raft of exciting new sports attractions delivered to complete the attraction, bringing an exciting new space to Cardiff for residents and visitors to enjoy.
“We are also in discussions to accelerate the development of the nearby waterfront area, to complete the new residential district.
“The bay edge walkway would be fully retained for public use and the current road system could be remodelled to create an enhanced pedestrian environment at the heart of the leisure development, all while ensuring full traffic access to current and new residential developments.”
In December the council published a masterplan for a 30-acre site stretching from its County Hall headquarters to the Red Dragon Centre across to Lloyd George Avenue and down to the Flourish, where Bute Place meets the Millennium Centre and Roald Dahl Plass.
And in November it announced the first phase by naming Live Nation and its development partner Oak View Group to deliver a 15,000-spectator capacity indoor arena on the car park site of County Hall.
Now the council has released a long-term masterplan for a further wave of developments, Business Live reports.
This could also see County Hall demolished, with a smaller HQ built, as well as the existing Red Dragon complex, which the council acquired the property investment ownership of in a £55m deal last year, being replaced with new attractions.