Credit: Cardiff Peninsula Consortium

The Peninsula

Credit: Cardiff Peninsula Consortium

Cardiff Bay is poised for a stunning transformation as the latest redevelopment plans breathe new life into an area that has remained dormant for years. The ‘Peninsula’ site, located southeast of the International Sports Village, is set to undergo an ambitious rejuvenation. 

In January 2024, the Cardiff Peninsula Consortium, spearheaded by Orion Land and Leisure, unveiled an exciting new vision for the site. The updated masterplan includes 1,003 homes, featuring a mix of townhouses and apartments in five striking high-rise buildings along the Bay waterfront, and an additional 306 co-living apartments nearby.

Adding to the area’s allure, the development will boast a 216-room luxury hotel, expansive retail and commercial spaces, modern offices, and six beautifully landscaped public areas. The existing boardwalk will also be completed, enhancing the waterfront experience, and ample car parking will be provided.

The development will also feature over 70 assisted living apartments in a lower-rise building located alongside the waterfront, designed with retired residents looking to downsize in mind. 

While the rest of the construction takes place, the Peninsula is set to open for visitors with padel tennis courts and a boxpark of food and drink venues this summer. 

Cathays Park café 

Credit: RSC Architect

In the heart of Cardiff’s civic centre, a once-neglected relic, an old public toilet block, is poised for a remarkable transformation into a chic café. After navigating through years of meticulous planning, Hakan Sir, the astute mind behind St Mary Street’s Lezzet Turkish Kitchen, has finally secured the necessary permissions, setting the stage for the café’s potential debut later this year.

Nestled amidst the gorgeous Cathays Park, this early 20th-century architectural gem is a Grade II listed structure which has long languished in a state of disrepair, teetering on the brink of collapse. However, visionary proposals now promise to breathe new life into its weathered walls, with plans for a substantial rear extension and an inviting decking area at the front.

According to the submitted blueprints, the café will boast twelve indoor tables and six outdoor ones, complemented by a well-appointed bar, food preparation area, and restroom facilities. Additionally, the revitalisation will include the addition of rain garden planters, enhancing the locale’s aesthetic appeal and environmental sustainability.

Hakan shares that he envisions a café offering a lighter culinary fare than his renowned restaurant for a cafe-bistro style. He also has visions for collaborating with the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama to have students exhibiting their art or putting on performances in the venue.