Cardiff International Sports Village News

The BBC reports that the winter sports complex in Cardiff Bay's landmark International Sports Village is to finally go ahead.



Work on a 150m ski slope, a nursery slope, skating arenas plus shops, bars, restaurants, a hotel and new homes will start immediately.

The project will be developed by Helium Miracle 113, a subsidiary of Wigan-based Greenbank Partnerships.

Last year, the council broke off its deal with Planet Ice, which won the initial tender, in a row over funds.

The council then re-opened the tender process.

Cardiff Council leader Rodney Berman said the development would boost the city's international reputation.

The new ice arena is expected to be completed in time to accommodate all or most of the 2013/2014 ice hockey season.

The entire project should be finished within five years.

The sports village currently has a 50m pool, white water facility and temporary ice rink.
Continue reading the main story

Excellent reputation

"We said we would deliver a new ice rink for the city of Cardiff and I am extremely pleased that these plans are moving forward," said councillor Berman.

"The new twin pad rink with spectator seating, bars and cafeterias will be the new home for the Cardiff Devils.

"It will also be another cornerstone of the International Sports Village, which is key within the council's plans to further enhance Cardiff's reputation as an international capital and a major tourist destination."

Paul Ragan, owner of the Cardiff Devils ice hockey team, said the project was "fabulous" news.

"This news will put Cardiff on the ice sports map throughout Europe," he said.

Jonathan Smith, development director at Helium Miracle 113, said he was looking forward to building on Cardiff's excellent tourism and cultural reputation.

Developers have been invited to bid for the right to build an indoor snow slope and permanent ice arena in Cardiff Bay.

Cardiff council has asked any would-be developers to make submissions before a tendering process begins “imminently”.

Bidders have been told they must accommodate an ice arena, two ski slopes and a leisure ice pad, as well as shops, restaurants and two hotels.

In July, the council ripped up a £5m contract with Planet Ice, the company originally asked to deliver the arena in the Bay’s International Sports Village.

That hit the buffers when the authority said the company had failed to provide proof of funds.

Now the Echo has seen a Prior Information Notice (PIN) as the process starts again.

In it, developers are asked to include plans for:

A ski slope of 150m by 30m – real-snow preferred – and an academy slope of 50m by 30m;

an ice arena to stage international events with seating for “circa 3,000” and corporate facilities;

a leisure ice pad and a children’s real-snow play area;

a multi-storey car park of 750 places – 350 of which are “free” for pool users.

The chosen developer will be known in early 2012 and can also develop a maximum 2,000m² of retail units, 3,500m² of cafés and restaurants and two hotels.

The ice arena – to be the permanent home of the Cardiff Devils ice hockey team – would be built as the first phase of the development and should be finished by August 2013.

The Devils currently play their games at a temporary rink – known as the “big blue tent” – after the Wales National Ice Rink was demolished in 2006 and they were not given a new home.

And Devils owner Paul Ragan yesterday said the “time frames” of the development and the arena size were his biggest concerns.

He said: “My only reservation is if it will be within the time frames. And 3,000 (seats) is not enough – we wish the council would have bigger aspirations.

“If we are going to bring European events and world events here, we are not going to do it with a 3,000-seater arena.”

Mr Ragan, who estimates his club has lost hundreds of thousands of pounds because of their protracted relocation, said more detail would be needed as things progress.

He said: “It also stipulates there should be corporate facilities, but what does that mean?

“We would need to get into detail about that – it was a very loose document without any real specifics.

“We’ll get through this season. In terms of next season, much will depend on how attractive a proposition we are.”

A Cardiff council spokesman said: “A Prior Information Notice (PIN) is used to give advanced notice to the market.

“The tender itself is going to go out imminently. We will make a decision on a new development partner early in the new year.”

Talks, meanwhile, are continuing between the council and Planet Ice over the future of the temporary rink.

[From Wales Online]

In an article about development of the ice rink, which will form part of the proposed International Sports Village in Cardiff, the indoor slope gets a mention so still seems to be part of the grand plan.

It could bring a taste of the Alps to the coast of South Wales.

Even during the economic slump, a snow dome has emerged as one of the key schemes officials believe can be brought to fruition in Cardiff.

Cardiff council’s executive is today being asked to allow senior officers to develop the plans with a company hoping to build the facility at the International Sports Village (ISV) in the Bay.

The venue would include a slope for learners and “play snow” for parties if it was built.

It is being considered alongside three other major projects for which the city council will invite bids from private companies in the hope of kick-starting the next stage of the Welsh capital’s growth.

[Read the full article on WalesOnline.co.ul]

The announcement by the British Government to, probably, develop the country’s first gambling mecca or “Super casino” in Manchester rather than one of the other locations bidding for the lucrative development was a setback for two proposals which were to incorporate indoor snow centres – Blackpool and Cardiff.

However Cardiff have announced their long standing plans to create a ‘Snowbox’ indoor snow centre remain “on” as part of their Sports Village, where development is ongoing and a swimming pool is set to open next year as a first development. They are now looking at alternative ways to fund the ongoing project.

Cardiff council leader Rodney Berman told the South Wales Echo newspaper,

“We are looking at a different way forward to develop the multi-purpose indoor arena and snow box. Once the Casino Advisory Panel announced its preferred site for the regional casino, we decided to accelerate our efforts to find other ways to deliver facilities in the sports village.”

A report on the options is expected to be presented to the Council later this year. It is likely to include a suggestion that land that had been earmarked for the supercasino site might be sold off for housing and/or retail with income raised used to fund the indoor snow centre and other leisure developments.

However the whole situation concerning the licenses for less prestigious regional casinos is still up in the air and the possibility of a regional casino being developed on the Sports Village site remains a possibility which Mr Bernan says would mean, “a longer- term process than looking for a different way forward to fund facilities.”

If Cardiff wins the bid to host the UK's first super-casino, then it is expected that the whole sports village will be complete by 2010 and will include an indoor snow slope.

A temporary ice rink being built in Cardiff will be around for about five years, when it will be replaced with the "permanent facility". We can assume that the new permanent facility will include the development of the proposed indoor slope for Cardiff's ISV.

The full press release from Cardiff Council reads:

WORK STARTS ON TEMPORARY ICE RINK

Work has begun on building the temporary ice rink at the International Sports Village in Cardiff Bay.

Piling has started at the site and this will be marked by a special ground breaking ceremony by the leader of Cardiff Council, Councillor Rodney Berman, with Councillor Nigel Howells and the lead members of SORAC on Monday, July 3 at 12noon.

The new rink will replace the existing Wales National Ice Rink, which will be demolished later this year to make way for the St David’s 2 development in Cardiff city centre.

The temporary ice rink at the site in Cardiff Bay, which is due to be completed in September 2006, will have 2,000 seats, changing facilities, offices and cafeterias.

Piling is being carried out with the installation of cast concrete piles, this will be followed by reinforced concrete pile caps and foundations and then the laminated timber frame which will be shipped from Finland and installed in July.

The temporary rink will be in place for between three to five years. Although the provision of a new permanent facility is not exclusively dependent on Government approval for a new regional casino at the International Sports Village site, should that approval be granted then this will ensure that funding for a permanent replacement rink is available within a shorter timescale. The permanent facility will be a new state-of-the-art multi purpose arena which will provide world class facilities for sport and entertainment alike and have a minimum seating capacity for ice hockey of 4000.

The temporary rink will have full vehicle access, car parking provision, with major improvements to public transport facilities, including regular bus services between the city centre and the Sports Village.

Councillor Berman said: “I am delighted that work on the new temporary rink is now underway. Providing high quality ice facilities for skaters in the city was always a priority for this council and it is very good to see the new structure going up.

“This marks another exciting chapter for the International Sports Village which, when completed, will be one of most impressive sports and leisure destinations in the UK.”

Cardiff Council’s bid for a regional casino, as part of the International Sports Village (ISV) development, has today moved forward another important step.

The Casino Advisory Panel today named the final eight bids that it would be evaluating, with a final recommendation of the winning bid being made to the Government at the end of the year.

A total of 27 bids for a regional casino were submitted in March 2006 including Cardiff’s ISV proposal.

The decision for Cardiff as a site for a regional casino will bring forward early major investment into the now £1bn plus ISV project, ensuring funding for the sporting facilities come quicker, so they will be completed by 2010 in time for both UK and visiting nations to use them in 2010, 2011 and for the 2012 Olympics.

ISV will be one of the most exciting sports venues in Europe, based around the themes of water, snow and ice, and providing world class sporting facilities for the whole region.

These will include a 50m full competition swimming pool, with 25m warm up pool, multipurpose arena, (suitable for training for many Olympic sports, such as gymnastics, weight lifting, boxing, wrestling, judo, fencing, basketball and many more), ice sports and snow mountain, Olympic standard canoeing (which could be used for Olympic canoe finals) and white water rafting centre. The complex will also include a heritage centre, top class hotels family entertainment and conference facilities. To create a complete destination for both visitors and local people alike.

However, a regional casino is the catalyst in assuring ISV is completed in time to support the Olympics of 2012 and the preparation years of 2010 and 2011.

The Casino Advisory Panel had been asked by the Government to especially look at areas in need of regeneration (as measured by unemployment and other social deprivation data) and to ensure that those areas selected are willing to license a new casino.

These are criteria which the council feels its bid meets. The ISV project will provide major regeneration benefits, creating around 4,500 new jobs at the ISv and up to 2,500 further jobs within the region, providing huge investment in local skills, the transformation of a brown field site and enhanced community facilities.

The Council, working closely with the former WDA and its development partner, has chosen an operator for the Regional Casino, the major UK/Australian partnership of Aspers, to run the facility.

Cardiff Council leader Rodney Berman said: “We are obviously delighted that Cardiff’s bid for a regional casino has made it to the next stage of the evaluation process.

“This is about bringing more good quality jobs to Cardiff Bay and helping to deliver some exciting sporting facilities in a shorter timescale to support the Olympics of 2012. I am very pleased that we have taken another key step forward.

“We remain confident that the Cardiff bid is a very strong one and with the links to the 2012 Olympics it is also unique.”

He added: “We remain focused on securing a regional casino in Cardiff which will put the ISV on the map as a world class sporting and leisure destination, whilst supporting the UK’s ability to successfully host the Olympics of 2012.”

Damien Aspinall, co founder with Jamie Packer of Aspers, commented: "Aspers is delighted to see that Cardiff's compelling case to be the location for the new regional casino has been recognised by the DCMS.

“Cardiff has a wonderful site at the International Sports Village in Cardiff Bay and the local community and politicians are right behind the project, which is ready to go now. This broad-based support was very evident at the recent launch of the ISV project, where many leading Olympians and Para Olympians, politicians, community leaders and others emphasised the importance of completing the project by 2010 and the key role that the Aspers complex will play in facilitating this.

“Aspers is very excited to be progressing to the next phase with our partners in Wales and we hope that, bit by bit, Cardiff is now emerging as a front-runner in the competition."

[Press Release from Cardiff COuncil]

The Cardiff International Sports Village (ISV) has taken another huge step forward with the news that Cardiff Council and Orion Land and Leisure (Cardiff) Limited (OLLC) have successfully completed a deal for a spectacular residential development on the site.

Residential developers Bay Pointe Ltd, a joint venture between Allied Developments (of the USA) and City Lofts, has completed the purchase of 12.5 acres of land.

Bay Pointe has an exciting vision for the development of the site, taking full advantage of its unique position affording outstanding views across the Bay, the Severn estuary and back to the city. This is the last significant residential site on the western side of Cardiff Bay, with the benefit of outline planning consent for over 1100 units.

Architects Atkins has designed the development.

The ISV project has further been boosted by the news that Toys R Us will be moving from its current city centre location to the sports village site, opening in the late autumn.

Together with the ongoing development of the new Morrisons out of town food superstore, these sales represent further significant investment in the Regeneration at ISV and the Bay. This provides further confidence in the scheme in its aim to deliver a world-class destination for Cardiff and Wales based on international sports, leisure and entertainment facilities which, providing Cardiff is successful in obtaining a Regional casino licence, would be in place by 2010 and used as a supporting venue for the forthcoming 2012 London Olympics.

Richard Olsen, Chairman of OLLC, said: “With construction work already started on the 50m international swimming pool, the sale of the residential land constitutes a huge leap forward in the realisation of the International Sports Village.

“Our focus will now be to progress the other sports, leisure and entertainment facilities based around the theme of water, snow and ice, together with supporting the Council in its bid to obtain a Regional Casino licence. This would enable all the facilities to be in place by 2010 so that the Sports Village could be suitable as a support venue for the forthcoming 2012 London Olympics. "

Cardiff Council leader Rodney Berman said: "This is excellent news and is yet another exciting step forward in this world-class development. We are delighted that this progress has been made and believe this demonstrates once again how much confidence there is in the International Sports Village, not just on a regional and national level, but now on the global stage as well."

[Press Release from Cardiff Council]

One of the country’s biggest unions has backed the plan to bring a regional casino to Cardiff.

The GMB has thrown its full weight behind Cardiff Council’s official bid to secure a regional casino for the International Sports Village (ISV), which will support the Welsh capital as a UK core city for the 2012 Olympics.

ISV will be one of the most exciting sports venues in Europe, based around the themes of water, snow and ice.

Cardiff International Sports Village would provide world class sporting facilities for the region, including a 50m swimming pool, multipurpose arena, ice sports and snow mountain, Olympic standard canoeing and white water rafting centre. The complex will also include a heritage centre, top class hotels and conference facilities, and a regional casino.

The project will provide major regeneration benefits, creating around 4,500 new jobs, providing huge investment in local skills, the transformation of a brown field site and enhanced community facilities and a world class urban environment, but a regional casino is the catalyst in assuring ISV is completed in time to support the Olympics of 2012.

If the Government agrees to Cardiff as a site for a regional casino, it will bring forward early large scale investment into the £700 million ISV project, ensuring funding for the sporting facilities is immediately available.

Mike Payne of the GMB said: “The GMB sees the regional casino as the catalyst for the funding of a major development which will regenerate the Bay area of the city and will provide first class facilities and well paid, sustainable jobs for the people of Cardiff and South Wales.

“On that basis, the GMB will be supporting Cardiff Council’s bid to have a regional casino at the Sports Village.”

Cardiff Council leader Rodney Berman said: “We are delighted to have received the support of the GMB for our casino bid.

“The council has received widespread support for the bid and we must now prove to the Government that Cardiff’s case for a regional casino, as part of the total ISV Destination Development, delivers both economic regeneration and major investment and that any adverse social effects identified are minimised, controlled and managed.

“In this way we will realise the ISV as a world class sporting and leisure destination and firmly put Cardiff and Wales on the winner’s podium as a city of truly international standing whilst supporting the UK’s ability to successfully host the Olympics of 2012.”

[Press Release]

Sports Management reports:

The realisation of the £700m Cardiff International Sports Village (CISV) has taken a step forward with the signing of development agreements to start civil engineering work.

The £17m civil engineering programme, which entails the construction of roads and other infrastructure, is expected to start before Christmas with an approximate completion date of October 2006.

CISV also announced that an agreement with Morrisons had the retailer on course for delivering a store next October.

Kevin Doyle, development manager at CISV told Leisure Opportunities: “This is a quantum leap forward for this project. I am confident that in the near future, we will also be able to announce that phase one of the waterfront development, including a 50m competition swimming pool, will be able to commence, ahead of a 2007 opening.

“We are also submitting plans for a regional supercasino. While our business plan doesn’t require the casino, we would have to reconsider our options if we didn’t get it.”

Other plans include a snowdome, ice rink, whitewater centre and general purpose arena.

ASPERS, part of the Aspinall Packer Group (APG), has been named as the casino operator who will provide the driving force and major investment in Cardiff’s £700 million International Sports Village. It is hoped the 80 acre development in Cardiff Bay will both regenerate the area and raise the city’s international profile.

The casino and hotel are expected to create more than 1,500 full-time jobs, numerous part-time posts and more than 1,000 extra jobs amongst suppliers in the surrounding areas. It will also provide the funding for one of the most exciting sports venues in Europe, based around the themes of water, snow and ice. It will include: a state-of-the-art snow box, a 4,000 seat multi-purpose arena, an ice pad suitable for international competition, a multi-purpose entertainment complex and with an exciting variety of waterfront bars and restaurants. The 50 metre and 25 metre swimming pools, leisure pool, spas and health and fitness centre already have separate funding sources.

The process of choosing a casino operator started in June 2004, when casino operators were invited to express an interest. Eleven initial responses narrowed down to nine submissions and finally to a choice between two operators : Aspinalls/Packer and Ameristar. A team from Cardiff Council visited casinos run by both companies in the USA and Australia to examine the social and economic impact of a casino on the local community, The developer Orion Land and Leisure (Cardiff) Ltd also visited the reference sites separately to assess the economic viability of each bid.

Cardiff Council Leader, Councillor Rodney Berman said: ”This is an important step. The appointment of a casino operator will trigger a huge investment in the city. This will enable us to provide the most exciting sporting facilities in Europe right here in Cardiff Bay. The casino will be part of an entertainment complex with something for everyone. It will bring good quality jobs for the whole region and will act as a catalyst to regenerate this part of Cardiff. We looked very carefully at the social and economic impact of similar casinos abroad and felt reassured that both casino operators bidding for Cardiff would provide good quality jobs, training, strict regulation and wider community benefits for people living nearby.”

Damian Aspinall, on behalf of Aspers, part of the Aspinall Packer Group (APG) said: “I am absolutely delighted and would like to thanks Orion Land and Leisure (Cardiff) Ltd and Cardiff Council for selecting Aspers. It is great news for Cardiff. If a regional casino is granted for Wales by the Government we will continue to work with the OLLCL and the Council to ensure that it comes to the Capital.”

Richard Olsen, Chairman of Orion Land and Leisure (Cardiff) Ltd said: “We are committed to creating an internationally recognised development on the Peninsula site which the people of Cardiff will be proud of. For a long time, we have recognised the benefits that a regional casino will bring to the city enabling Cardiff's and our own original vision for the site to be fulfilled.

“Together with APG, we will be working closely with Cardiff to persuade the Government that a regional casino should be located on the Peninsula site.”

[Press Release]

Long delayed plans for a £700m ($1.3 billion US) “International Sports Village” in Cardiff Bay, Wales, finally took a step forward this month with the submission of initial planning applications to the local authorities for initial facilities on the site including a swimming pool complex and a food supermarket. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year.

'It is anticipated that the international sports village will be constructed in several phases over a period of six years,' explained Malcolm Evans, head of regulatory services at the council, in a report to the committee.

Senior councillors have argued that a casino complex is crucial to anchor the project and help meet the costs of the rest of the Sports Village including the indoor ski centre. A council delegation is on a fact finding tour of Australia and the US, looking at casinos.

From Snow365.com

The long planned £1 billion “sports village” in Welsh capital Cardiff has received planning permission. The complex will incorporate a 10,000-seat indoor arena, a snowdome, international rowing and canoe course, white-water rafting centre and Olympic-sized swimming pool.

From Snow365.com

We had a press release yesterday about the Cardiff’s International Sports Village development. There's no mention of the proposed indoor slope, so we checked with them. They said it was still in the proposal.

Here's the press release in full.

Cardiff’s International Sports Village development is progressing well, with work to date coming in on schedule and within budget, according to a report to Cardiff Council’s Executive today.

And further progress on the sport and leisure development scheme has been assured following the agreement of Cardiff Council’s Executive today that vital agreements can be taken forward.

The Executive has authorised Chief Executive Byron Davies to progress the satisfaction of the pre-conditions attached to the three Development Agreements for the Sports Village; to make the necessary arrangements for continued provision of ice skating and to complete the process of selecting a suitable regional casino operator.

Cardiff Council recognises that the benefits of the International Sports Village development to Cardiff and to Wales are significant, particularly in economic and employment terms and that it will help to regenerate one of the last prime development sites on the Bay edge.

Leader of Cardiff, Councillor Rodney Berman, said: “Cardiff is undergoing a period of exciting change which will make the city even more dynamic and today’s decision will help us achieve that change sooner rather than later.

“We are committed to working closely with the preferred developers to help deliver this major project, which will be a valuable asset to Cardiff and will complete the arc of entertainment in the Bay.

"Progressing the casino development will unlock significant financial resources which will pave the way for progress on a new ice rink and associated facilities. It will also offer an opportunity to accelerate delivery of the whole project and add substantially to the facilities being developed."


Conditional development agreements were signed in June 2004 and work is progressing with three preferred developers – Orion Land and Leisure, Bride Hall Developments and Cardiff Bay Infrastructure Ltd. Remediation of the Ferry Rd site is now complete and final works to the Bay edge will be concluded in May of this year.

The formal selection process for a regional casino is also in its final stage, with senior officers and lead members due to carry out assessments of the two short listed operators in the next few months. This will include a visit to the operators’ reference sites in Australia and America to assess economic, social and environmental factors. The casino licensing process will then have to be concluded before any development of a casino can proceed.

Outline planning consent for all elements of the development is already in place and applications for approval of Reserve Matters and detailed planning consent will be submitted shortly. Construction work on the next phase of the Village is then expected to commence in mid 2005.

Cardiff Council is taking the lead by spearheading one of the most exciting sports, leisure and entertainment projects in the UK, and set in the heart of Cardiff Bay: the Cardiff International Sports Village.

This unique £700 million landmark project will be built over the next seven years and will combine state-of-the-art sports, leisure and entertainment with high quality waterfront residences, hotels, casinos, bars, restaurants and major retail, offering a full range of exciting facilities.

The International Sports Village 80-acre site complements the 500-acre lake created by the Cardiff Bay Barrage, which has already regenerated the harbour, home to the National Assembly and other major investments.

When complete this will unquestionably create one of the most exciting visitor attractions in Europe linked to a capital city centre already recognised as a major international destination.

Cardiff’s International Sports Village is attracting interest from sports and leisure students, who will be instrumental in taking the development forward.

The team leading the development are keen to forge links with students, who will be the ones to run and benefit from the Sports Village in the future.

A group of half a dozen Masters students from the School of Sport, PE & Recreation at UWIC (University of Wales Institute, Cardiff) were interested in looking at how the development fits into the overall management of the Bay. And undergraduate Leisure and Sports students looking at commercial considerations in sports development were also given a presentation.

Helene Grousset-Rees, Marketing Officer at the International Sports Village, said: “We gave both groups a talk that lasted about an hour, which was very well received. The students asked a lot of questions and were very keen on the project and how it fitted in with other major projects in the Bay and the city centre, particularly as they will soon be looking for opportunities to work on such a project.

“We are very keen to engage students in what will be a development run by and for them and their peers.”

Chris Jennings, Course Director for Sports Development in the School of Sport, PE and Recreation at UWIC, said: “The £700 million development of the International Sports Village offers students within the Cardiff area a unique opportunity to monitor and engage with a project that has UK and European significance in relation to the commercial development of leisure opportunities.

“This visit allowed our level two BSc (Hons) and HND Leisure & Sports Management students to see the innovative and ground breaking outcomes of the bold decision by Cardiff Council to act as host to the project. This will be the catalyst to turning 80 acres of 'brown field' land into a vibrant leisure and retail quarter which promises to extend Cardiff's reputation as a European capital city.”

Both UWIC and Cardiff Council are keen to ensure that the right skills and abilities are in place in the local workforce to service the considerable jobs within the leisure sector that the developments will produce in the next eight to ten years.

“There is great potential to work with Cardiff Bay on an ongoing educational and vocational level”, said Mr Jennings.

Cardiff Council is developing a variety of links with local Higher Education facilities, be it by inviting groups from different faculties to visit the Sports Village project office or helping them develop and follow through individual projects and assignments. If you are interested in working with, or visiting the Sports Village for educational purposes, please contact Helene Grousset-Rees on (029) 2087 9388.

[Press Release]

The people at Cardiff tell us:

The £700 million Sports Village project is developer led and will be financed entirely by private investment.

Within the next few weeks the Council is due to appoint a developer to be responsible for the sports and leisure elements of the village.

So that's good news it seems.

Leisure Management reports that

Decline in lottery funding sees Sports Council for Wales concentrate on the community

The Sports Council for Wales has announced that its National Lottery funded schemes are to be cut back following a decline in income.

Although the council has distributed more than £100m to over 6,500 projects throughout Wales since 1995, forecasts for lottery funding for the remaining five years of the current lottery licence show a continuing decline.

The Sports Council has subsequently decided that it will continue with schemes vital to the health of the nation, but cut back on the funding of new facilities.

Over the past eight years, the council has been responsible for providing funding for high profile centres such as the Wales National Pool, the Wales National Velodrome, the National Indoor Athletic Centre and developments at Wrexham Racecourse.

However, it will now be focusing on continuing to support community schemes such as Dragon Sport – the campaign to get more primary school children involved in sport – Disability Sport Cymru and Community Chest –small grants to grassroots projects.

“If we are to get people more active, programmes such as Dragon Sport and Disability Sport Cymru are vital,” said chief executive, Dr Huw Jones. “Though we are forced to cut back on the funding of facilities, we hope to support projects that are of paramount priority.”

Over the next few months the council will decide which facilities it can still afford to support from its reduced capital grants programme.

Whether this will put the proposed Cardiff indoor slope in jeopardy it doesn't say, but it would certainly seem so. We'll try to find out more.
[From Leisure Management]

A few days ago we received a very large package outlining the Cardiff Sports Village development.

The Village won't be complete until 2010 and whilst there's no real details on the plans for indoor slope, there was an enclosed article from Sports Management magazine with the following information:

The village will be based around a central theme of water, snow and ice, including comprehensive facilities for skiing and snowboarding. In some senses, using "extreme sports" - skiing, ice skating [Ed?], climbing - to anchor such a large development, might be seen to be a bit of a risk. Certainly its success hangs on the growing popularity of these sports, but Bryon Davies [Cardiff Council] is confident: "Yes, in some ways we're working on the assumption that these sports will be the most popular in 10 years time, but we're looking to build something fresh, exciting and new. This will reflect the sporting trends of the next generation."

Anyway, so at least we're on their mailing list and we'll keep you up to date as we find out more.

The plans for the massive redevelopment of Cardiff Waterfront have remained quiet for some months now. However a recent report in Leisure Management Magazine reveals that work has begun on the project and that it still includes plans for a snow box for winter sports.

The article reads:

Work has begun on the £700m development scheme to create an innovative sports and leisure destination on the Cardiff waterfront.

The Cardiff International Sports Village project is one of the largest urban regeneration schemes in Europe and will be anchored by sports and leisure facilities.

The scheme is expected to take up to ten years to complete and the first work on the site will be carried out by Taylor Woodrow, who will also be developing the 450-apartment residential area on the site through its Bryant Homes brand.

The Sports Village development will be themed on water, snow and ice and will include a multipurpose arena with ice rink and a snow box for winter sports. There will also be a 50m competition pool, which has a scheduled completion date of 2005.

Other leisure facilities will include a hotel, conference facilities, a casino, restaurant developments and a heritage centre.

Cardiff council have confirmed that the scheme has been granted outline planning permission and agreements are in place with a number of key partners including the National Assembly for Wales on land disposal, environment and infrastructure procedures.

Leader of Cardiff Council, Councillor Russell Goodway, said: “By making this pioneering development our top urban regeneration priority, the Council is reflecting the genuine confidence in the scheme shared by our public and private sector partners.”

The announcement of the Cardiff plan prompted fears for the future of the recently-opened Wales National Pool development in Swansea for hosting international events.

Swansea-based Plaid Cymru AM, Dr Dai Lloyd said: “I welcome the news of another high quality swimming centre in Wales. However, I do not welcome any suggestion that this new pool will be used as an international venue. Wales already has a national pool – the pool at Swansea. All Welsh international events should be held there.

"We must ensure that Swansea's standing as the home of Wales's national pool is not undermined by what is a stealth bid by Cardiff County Council." Details:www.cardiff.gov.uk

There's even a website for the development at www.cardiff.gov.uk/sportsvillage. Interestingly the "Snow Experience" link includes the single word "snowboarding", there's no mention of skiing. The shot is from the SSAWS slope in Japan. That slope is currently being demolished after the downturn in the Japanese economy saw a massive slump in the popularity of winter sports.

The Leader of Cardiff Council, Councillor Russell Goodway, has welcomed the launch of work on site of the International Sports Village.

Welcoming guests to the launch event on the Ferry Road site this morning (Thursday, September 4), Councillor Goodway, said: “The £700 million development of this 80 acre site will unlock the full potential of Cardiff’s waterfront – and will complete the ‘arc of entertainment’ that was first envisaged in the early nineties as part of the council’s vision for 2020.

“I am delighted that progress is being made well within that original timescale, particularly because the Sports Village will be of enormous economic, social and cultural significance to Cardiff. This will be the council’s most important urban regeneration project of the next decade.

“Taking the project forward has not been without its difficulties. The plans have taken more than six years to develop. This reflects the need to respond positively to the other major developments that have been happening in Cardiff – not least the construction of the Millennium Stadium and the Wales Millennium Centre, together with the exciting proposals that have been put forward by Cardiff City Football Club for a new stadium.

“The Welsh Capital is once again demonstrating that it is a dynamic, ‘can do’ city - building on a proven track record of public-private partnership working to secure major regeneration projects for Cardiff.

“One of the hallmarks of all successful capital cities, one of the key things that sets cities such as Cardiff apart from others, is their vision, drive and commitment to deliver landmark regeneration projects – often against overwhelming odds.

“All successful cities deliver major projects that attract international interest and investment. Projects that are immediately recognised, not just for the value that they bring to local communities, but also for their potential to attract worldwide interest. I have no doubt that this £700 million development is in that category.

“Today's launch is further evidence of the council’s commitment to ensuring that the International Sports Village becomes a reality – and goes ahead on schedule. And this is most important. Because when completed, the Sports Village will undoubtedly create one of the most exciting, fully integrated waterfront resorts in Europe.

“Based on the unique themes of water, snow and ice, it has been carefully designed to reflect Cardiff’s colourful maritime and industrial heritage. And in the longer term, the Sports Village will continue to grow through the addition of world class waterfront residences, hotels, casinos, bars, restaurants, retail and leisure facilities.

“This project will play a major part in delivering this administration’s commitment to maintaining the profile of Cardiff as a dynamic European, and international, capital.

“But the priorities of local people must be put first, and that's why we have insisted that the first stage of the development must include a new swimming pool.

“Designed to reflect what the people of Cardiff told us they wanted, we will be developing a multi-purpose facility that will offer both local people and competitive swimmers the best of both worlds. A first class, modern facility that will cater for a range of sporting and leisure activities. Not just an international standard 50 metre pool with warm up and spectator facilities, but also a leisure water complex with health, fitness and spa facilities to rival anything else in the country.

“We estimate that more than a million users will take advantage of the facilities in the first year of operation. And we mustn’t forget the wider economic impact that this development will have. The pool alone, set to be completed by 2005, will provide more than 70 jobs - the overwhelming majority of which will be filled by local people.

“But we cannot transform visions into reality on our own. That's why we need partners who not only share in our vision but who share our confidence in the city. Partners who share our belief that the development and success of Cardiff can provide opportunities, not just for local people, but also for the whole of Wales.

“And I am pleased to say that we have a contractor in Taylor Woodrow that has already demonstrated that commitment. Taylor Woodrow has been involved in a number of significant development projects in Cardiff and has already played a major part in making Cardiff what it is today. We look forward to working with them to take the development of this major project forward for the people of Cardiff and Wales.”

[Press Release]

Work began today (Thursday, September 4, 2003) on a £700 million development scheme to create an innovative sports and leisure destination on Cardiff’s waterfront. The Cardiff International Sports Village project is one of Europe’s biggest urban regeneration schemes and the first sports facility to be built on the 80-acre site will be the capital’s new international swimming pool scheduled to be completed by the end of 2005.

The first work on site is being carried out by Taylor Woodrow who have won the contract to prepare the site for future development. The company will also be developing the first residential area on the site, a collection of 450 apartments, through its Bryant Homes brand.

The Sports Village project is Cardiff Council’s top urban regeneration priority and is expected to take up to 10 years to complete. Based on the themes of water, snow and ice, the project is expected to create thousands of jobs and offer both local people and visitors world-class leisure and sports facilities. The development will include:
• A 50-metre swimming and leisure pool;
• A multipurpose arena with ice-rink;
• Hotel, conference facilities and a casino;
• A snow box for winter sports;
• Retail/restaurants and residential developments;
• A heritage centre; and
• A multi-storey car park, coach parking and park & ride facilities.
Mooring for boats and waterfront pedestrian area
The scheme has been granted outline planning permission and agreements are in place with key partners on land disposal, environment and infrastructure procedures including the National Assembly for Wales, the Welsh Development Agency, the Environment Agency and ABP.

Commenting on the scheme, Councillor Russell Goodway, Leader of Cardiff Council, said: “By making this pioneering development our top urban regeneration priority, the Council is reflecting the genuine confidence in the scheme shared by our public and private sector partners. Over the next few months we will be announcing further details, which will demonstrate how the project will unlock the full potential of Cardiff’s waterfront.”

Councillor Marion Drake, Deputy Leader (Culture and Sport), added: “This ambitious scheme will help us achieve our target to provide the people of Cardiff with a new swimming pool which matches the best in Europe.

“The combination of a leisure water complex and an international standard 50m pool plus health and fitness facilities will cater for families as well as the serious swimmers. We hope it will give us the best of both worlds.”

Douglas Weston, CBE, speaking on behalf of Taylor Woodrow, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in such a major project for the city. Taylor Woodrow has a long history of working in Wales. We are currently constructing the National Assembly Building and recently completed the Millennium Plaza. The expertise we will bring to Cardiff International Sports Village will come from across the construction, engineering and house building areas of our business.”

[Press Release]

The long-awaited International Sports Village in Cardiff Bay has taken a major step towards construction after councillors approved outline plans last week.

Plans for the long awaited £700m International Sports Village on a 95-acre waterfront site in Cardiff Bay were considered by city planning chiefs for the first time this week. Even if it gets the go ahead at local level, it will almost certainly have to then go before the National Assembly for final approval because of its size.

The development will include an aquatic centre, snow dome with five indoor ski runs, a 10,000 seat indoor arena, almost 1,000 apartments and houses, including a 26 storey tower block, a 60,000 sq ft casino and 500-bed hotel. New roads and a chain-operated ferry across the city's River Ely are also unveiled in the outline application.

The long-awaited International Sports Village scheme was first proposed in the mid 1990s but a succession of development partnerships have failed to take off.

The application states that the first phase of the development is planned to include 751 waterfront houses and apartments, an aquatic centre, casino, hotel, conference centre and golf driving range likely to be built above a supermarket and a DIY store. The development will not be complete until 2011 and so we may have a nine year wait to finally see a snowdome in Cardiff.

It's still a bit of confusion around Cardiff's snowdome plans. On the one hand we have Xscape talking about a mini dome and on the other there's the long standing plans for a slope as part of a massive International Sports Village.

The much-delayed pounds 400m Cardiff International Sports Village could be postponed still further due to problems affecting the private company backing the project - Tyco International. It seems that the chairman has resigned.