Growth & Investment in Cardiff

Building on momentum

Atlantic Wharf is one of the UK’s most exciting mixed use regeneration opportunities situated in Cardiff Bay. The Atlantic Wharf regeneration area extends to c. 30 acres and will eventually deliver over 155,000 sq m (1,650,000 sq ft) GIA of new mixed-use development (food and beverage, leisure, office, residential, hotel and cultural uses) adjacent to the city’s new 16,500 capacity indoor arena.

Cardiff Council and the operator for the new Indoor Arena, Live Nation secured a hybrid planning permission for the delivery of a mixed-use Masterplan within Cardiff’s Inner Harbour, Cardiff Bay in March 2023.

The Arena is being delivered and operated by Live Nation and will be situated immediately to the north of Area B and forms the first phase of regeneration. Construction commenced September 2025 and is scheduled to open in 2028.

A new transport interchange will connect the metro line between Cardiff Bay, the city centre, and the new proposed Cardiff Parkway Station – including high quality pedestrian and transport links for multi-modal transport.

Callaghan Square occupies a prime city centre location adjacent to Cardiff Central railway and within walking distance of all the city centre facilities and attractions and sits within Welsh Government’s Central Cardiff Enterprise Zone.

The successful first phase of the Callaghan Square development and city centre retail and office areas and to the West by Cardiff Central station, provides over 300,000 ft² of Grade A office space with occupiers including Eversheds, British Gas, British Transport Police, AECOM, JLL and HSBC.

Located on the south side of the Square is the Welsh Government’s strategically important comprehensive regeneration site which comprises over 7.5 acres of prime land for redevelopment.

Whilst the redevelopment of site has historically been seen as predominately office-based location (previous outline consent for 500,000 sq. ft. of offices), the opportunity now exists for an exciting new mixed-use redevelopment adjacent to the proposed new Cross Rail link from Cardiff Station to Cardiff Bay. The site is also bounded to the west by major commercial office development along Dumballs Road and the attractive new Cardiff and the Vale College campus. The development potential of this site could be in excess of 1.3 million sq. ft. of new development.

Whilst this site is already well located in the heart of the city centre, the delivery of the Cross Rail link from Cardiff Station to Cardiff Bay, due to commence enablement works late spring/early summer 2026, would place it adjacent to a new train station with all the communication benefits that this offers to the site and for its future occupiers/residents.

The site will be subject of a new masterplan that will guide the broad parameters for the future redevelopment site. The Masterplan is expected around Autumn 2026 which will help inform future development expectations.

The Canal Quarter area represents around a quarter of the Cardiff city centre and has the potential to develop into a new destination, characterised by the opening of the city’s historic waterways, as the old canal areas are revealed.

The development framework sets out an ambition for the delivery of a high-density mixed-use development providing new homes, offices and retail spaces set within a network of pedestrian orientated environments and establishing a vibrant place to live, work and visit.

The regeneration project seeks to attract both large-scale corporate investments and smaller-scale independent developments that encourage vibrancy and authenticity through new cultural venues including space for performance and music, both indoors and outdoors.

Canal Quarter includes significant new public square providing additional high quality public space within the city centre. The square will be designed to maximise the potential of green infrastructure and will be capable of accommodating a variety of events within the city centre.

The site is central to the cities railway infrastructure, being adjacent to Queen Street railway station and 5 minute walk from Cardiff Central.

The regeneration project is at Phase 1 including the opening of the Canal waterway on Churchill Way.

Cardiff Council is continues to work closely with private sector partners to deliver a new vibrant district for the city.

Capital Quarter is located in the heart of Cardiff city centre in close proximity to both Central and Queen Street railway stations and within walking distance of all the city centre facilities and attractions.

Capital Quarter is a 10 acre mixed use city centre development with outline planning for over 1,025,000 ft2 of development to include offices, hotels, student housing and education uses.

With over 350,000 ft2 of Grade A office space already developed and let along with high quality student accommodation now completed, the next phase of Capital Quarter includes John Street with over 100,000 ft2 of Grade A office under construction with planning for an additional 200,000 ft2 on the site.

Current tenants within the Capital Quarter community already include Sky, Development Bank of Wales, Network Rail, NHS Wales, Which?, BT, Pepper Money and Geldards Solicitors.

Cardiff Edge is owned by ‘Pioneer Group’ (PG) and ‘Harrison Street Asset Management’. PG are promoting the site on behalf of the Joint Venture. The ambition is to develop Cardiff Edge into the pre-eminent Life Science and Innovation location in South Wales.

The 27 acre (11 hectare) site is strategically located to the north of Cardiff adjacent to J32 of the M4 motorway and, within 10 minutes’ walk of Radyr rail station. It has good access by foot and for cyclists wishing to use the Taff Trail which runs along the river from the City centre and continues north of the campus connecting a significant number of towns and residential locations.

Cardiff Edge currently provides approximately 180,000 ft² (16,700 m2) of ‘Life Science and Innovation’ space comprising Laboratories, Clean Rooms, Offices, GMP and support accommodation. The intention is to increase the scale of the site by constructing a further circa 350,000 ft² (32,515 m2) of new laboratories, offices and GMP accommodation, together with a new collaboration hub and associated car parking.

Planning consent has already been obtained for two new buildings on the campus, the first comprising a new two storey, 55,000 ft² office and lab enabled building. Maximum flexibility has been designed into the floorplates so that it is capable of accommodating both biology and chemistry laboratory requirements. It can be let as a whole or sub-divided for multi-let purposes. The second building is a two storey, 10,000 ft² hub at the heart of the campus which will provide occupiers with a central amenity space that could house a café or restaurant, flexible serviced office, meeting room and break out spaces.

Pioneer Group is working up plans for further development on the science park with prospective occupiers to help create critical mass and build an eco-system that fosters collaboration and innovation.

Set at the heart of the Cardiff Capital Region, the Cardiff Parkway development is a proposed new vibrant, connected business district, providing high quality facilities in an exceptional natural landscape.

Served by a new railway station, known as Cardiff Parkway, the development will have direct links to Cardiff and Newport city centres in just seven minutes, as well as mainline train services to Bristol, London and beyond.

The development has the potential to support around 6,000 jobs, as well as becoming a transport hub that helps people to access other employment opportunities across the region.

The project aims to become a catalyst for growth, contributing to the regeneration of East Cardiff and the wider Cardiff Capital Region by attracting investment and quality, enduring businesses.

The Cardiff Parkway development offers a unique opportunity for prospective companies looking to invest in the UK with its strategic, central location in the Cardiff Capital Region and its connections with the rest of the UK.

Central Quay is part of a 6.5 hectare mixed use regeneration scheme immediately to the south of Central Train Station in the heart of Cardiff city centre.

The scheme will create a new destination to live and work in the city with access to the River Taff, whilst enhancing the legacy of the original use of the Brewery by retaining the iconic chimney stack and bringing the historic Brewhouse back into use.

The Masterplan includes:

• One Central Quay – offices over 7 storeys of 14,500 m2.

• The Brewhouse – offices and leisure totalling 6,500 m2.

• Multi Storey Car Park – 695 spaces.

• Residential (BTR) – 715 apartments in 2 blocks of 28 and 20 storeys.

• Hotel – 220 bedrooms (subject to planning consent).

• Planned phases for a further 700 units of BTR apartments and offices.

Future phases of the Central Quay area will involve enhancements to Central Station and provision for the planned Metro system for Cardiff.

Howells is one of Cardiff’s most iconic buildings, located in the very heart of Cardiff city centre, occupying a prime site of approximately 1.7 acres. The developer, Thackeray Group, has recently launched the constituent parts of the scheme, known as The Percy, The Walter, The Bethany and The Hayes @ Howells to market.

Occupying the most prominent site, Howells is just a stone’s throw away from the Principality Stadium and St David’s II. The vision for Howells is for it to become a new global hub for the city, acting as the catalyst for further redevelopment along St Mary St. Howells will home a vibrant mix of uses from hotel, office, commercial, retail and leisure.

The plans include a large central courtyard linking into Cardiff Market, along with public realm improvements with biophilic design at its heart. The occupier mix will be carefully curated whereby the shops, restaurants, residents and office occupiers complement each other. The ambition is for Howells to be full of energy on Monday mornings as well as a Saturday evening.

International Sports Village (ISV) comprises a 36-hectare site located on a prime peninsula waterfront site at the heart of Cardiff Bay.

It is already established as a destination with a range of sporting activities which include the Cardiff International Pool, twin pad International Ice Arena, Cardiff Bay Water Activity Centre, and the Cardiff International White Water Rafting Centre.

The ISV also includes Cardiff Pointe, a new residential quarter of 800 plus new homes, incorporating a mix of townhouses, apartments and family homes.

There are currently a range of land parcels that are being brought forward by a developer including waterfront residential, hotel, leisure uses including adventure sports and retail opportunities.

Proposals are being considered to better connect the Sports Village to Cardiff Bay and the wider city with improved public transport connections and water links with the potential of water taxis or buses being seen within Cardiff Bay within the next 2 years.