Cardiff Bay was a major redevelopment project that transformed a formerly industrial and derelict site into a vibrant waterfront destination for leisure, housing, and business. The 15-year project used £2.4 billion to regenerate over 1,100 hectares along the Cardiff city waterfront. A key feature was the Cardiff Bay Barrage, Europe's largest freshwater lake within a city, which helped create 13 km of new waterfront. The project succeeded in connecting the city center to the waterfront and is now home to major developments like the Welsh Assembly building and Wales Millennium Centre.

1. Cardiff Bay (Use multimap)

18. Introduction One of the most successful redevelopment schemes in UK 15 year waterfront development programme Leisure, houses, business, retail

19. Original use Start of 20 th Century busiest coal port in world Declined due to deindustrialisation and closure of Welsh coal mines By 1980s – dereliction and decay, high unemployment locally

20. Scale of project Cardiff Bay Development Corporation set up in 1987 to regenerate 1,100 hectares (2700 football pitches) £2.4 billion 1:4 ratio of public to private money Also wanted to connect city centre with the waterfront – distance of about a mile

21. Barrage Major feature is Cardiff Bay Barrage to enclose a clean fresh water area to act as centrepiece to the development Europe’s largest city centre waterfront – 13 km of waterfront around the bay

22. End of UDC The UDC ended in 2000 and responsibility now lies with Welsh Assembly which has its new building on the waterfront in Cardiff Bay

23. Achievements to date See handout Also Welsh assembly building and Wales Millennium Centre – an arts and cultural centre

24. Future Developments More shops, businesses, houses etc £700 m International Sports’ Village Ferry Road peninsular – Business Park which may employ up to 3000 people.