The detailed design has now been concluded for the proposed new multi-storey car park at Atlantic Wharf which will see the existing surface car parking stacked into a much smaller area enabling the site to be regenerated.
The new car park is part of a
commitment from the Council in support of the new Indoor Arena and is also
needed to meet the terms of the leases of tenants of the Red Dragon Centre.
If approval is given, the new car
park will replace the existing surface spaces and will retain the total number
of spaces in the area following the Council’s purchase of the Q-Parks
Multi-Storey Car Park on Pierhead Street in January 2024.
Cllr Russell Goodway, Cabinet
Member for Investment and Development at Cardiff Council said: “In January this
year, the Cabinet approved a new Car Parking Strategy for the Indoor Arena and
wider masterplan. Following the purchase of the Multi-Storey Car Park in
Pierhead Street, the Council must now deliver a 900 space Multi-Storey Car
Park, which is smaller than the original plan of 1,300 spaces.
“Together the car parks will give
the Council control over 2119 spaces for the same cost as the price of building
a 1300 space MSCP.
“If permission is given by Cabinet,
the new 900 space Multi Storey Car Park could be built by the end of next year
to ensure that the council meets its obligations to the Arena developer. Once
the new MSCP is built, it will allow the Council to move forward with the
regeneration of the Red Dragon Centre site.
In January 2020, the Council
acquired the Red Dragon Site so that the council had full control over the land
required to enable the development of a new 15,000-capacity indoor arena, and
to facilitate the investment into the wider Atlantic Wharf site.
The Council has undertaken a
process to attract a developer for the site, which consists of 11.3 acres of
land south of Hemingway Road, and is now working with Aviva
Capital Consortium (ACC) to bring forward plans for a vibrant mixed use
development that can complement the plans for the new Indoor Arena.
As part of the redevelopment the
Council is also seeking to improve the walking and cycling routes along Lloyd
George Avenue. The council has started to engage with the local community on
how the carriageway could be re-modelled to improve active travel routes to
complement the new Metro line and Crossrail and to increase the amount of green
space and landscaping.
Cllr Russell Goodway, Cabinet
Member for Investment and Development continued: “The preliminary ground works
for the new Indoor Arena is gathering pace in anticipation for the financial
close of the contract before March 2025.
"The arena and wider
masterplan will see a significant investment into the local economy, kick
starting the next phase regeneration of Cardiff Bay, creating jobs and
opportunities for local people while acting as a catalyst for further
investment into this historic part of the city.
"The arena will significantly
increase the number of people visiting Cardiff for events and concerts,
benefitting existing hospitality venues as well
as the new developments that will be built as part of this regeneration scheme.
The increased footfall will also complement the new Metro to Cardiff Bay, as
well as improving Cardiff's credentials to attract more and bigger events to
the city.”