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Elizabeth Thomas

Lido-style pool and wild swimming plus 'urban beach' among ambitious plans for Cardiff Bay

Plans to transform Cardiff Bay into a UK "leading visitor and tourism destination" are set to be reviewed this week, Cardiff council has said.

The authority's cabinet will examine a report on Thursday outlining existing projects as well as new proposals and ideas to transform the Bay area.

Proposals to be reviewed include the latest on the Cardiff Indoor Arena which is now set to have a capacity of 17,000 – up from earlier projections of 15,000.

Read more: Cardiff's 'Mona Lisa' mural recreated after being painted over for McDonald's advert

Another proposal is to "green" Lloyd George Avenue by creating an urban park, replacing the current dual carriageway road system with a standard single carriageway, removing traffic lights, and introducing new landscaping.

The council says it plans to engage with the community about the proposals in the coming months.

Other proposals to be discussed include replacing the Red Dragon Centre at Atlantic Wharf with a "larger leisure complex" and expanding the International Sports Village to include a new velodrome and a moto cross venue to the existing ice rink, international pool, and white water complex.

Artist impressions of plans for the International Sports Village in Cardiff Bay (Cardiff Council)

Some other ideas, which would need government funding and private sector partnerships, include a lido-style pool at Mermaid Quay that will enable outdoor swimming in a heated pool and access to ‘wild' swimming in Cardiff Bay as well as a 450,000 sq ft event site and waterfront park at Alexandra Head plus other family attractions and an urban beach. Also on the table is an an "academy-type" cultural venue linked to the Wales Millennium Centre and a virtual-reality "flight over Wales" experience based on an existing attraction in Amsterdam.

Other proposals include upgrades of the area's transport network to include safe cycle and walking routes from the city centre to the Bay, a Metro extension including a new station north of Loudoun Square, and the potential for a transport hub at Pierhead Street and connections to Cardiff's proposed Crossrail project and the new Cardiff Parkway station near St Mellons.

Artist impressions of the new indoor arena being built in Cardiff Bay (Handout)

In a post announcing the proposals and ideas on its website the council said that while some of the schemes have already been proposed progress has been held up by the pandemic over the past two years.

However the authority said that it hopes schemes that are already in the planning stage will now move forward and that potential schemes can be further investigated.

They added that many of the schemes are interdependent with the creation of the new arena, which is planned to open in early 2025, "most crucial of all to unlocking private sector confidence and funds to develop future projects".

Cllr Russell Goodway cabinet member for investment and development, said: "It's our intention to transform this historic part of Cardiff into a leading UK destination for leisure, culture and tourism, increasing visitors and, just as importantly, creating more jobs and opportunities for people who live nearby, not just in the construction phase but in helping to run all these initiatives when they are completed.

"While we are looking to introduce world-class venues and attractions here to rival anything outside of London the real key is improving the means of getting into and out of Cardiff Bay and the revitalised Atlantic Wharf, where the new indoor arena will be based."

Officers are said to be currently establishing sites for the projects acquiring land where necessary and discussing proposals from building companies, venue operators, and bodies that are key to their success such as Transport for Wales.

The council has also said it is planning to bid for a share of the UK Government's £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund and secure match-funding from the Welsh Government in order to help fund the regeneration.

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