Bay Sports Village apartments go-ahead

Feb 28 2008 by Aled Blake, Western Mail

A MAJOR residential development planned for the peninsula site at Cardiff’s International Sports Village was given the go-ahead yesterday by Cardiff Council.

Comprising 1,800 apartments in 10 apartment buildings – the tallest rising to 33 stories – Bay Pointe, a joint development between and City Lofts Group and Allied Developments (Europe) Limited, will be Wales’ tallest residential building.

With two towers designed by the Sir Terence Conran Design Group, the developers say it will “create a unique and distinctive landmark” for Cardiff Bay.

The development will also incorporate Cardiff’s first waterfront park, allowing residents and visitors easier access to the Bay itself.

The extensive, high-quality landscaping will include a waterside footpath and cycleway and pedestrian green route through the development as well as a series of landscaped and infant play areas.

Room for indoor recreational activities will also be created on the ground floor of one of the towers as well as observatory space on the top floor, providing 360-degree views of the bay, Penarth and beyond. Chris Hamilton, managing director of Bay Pointe, said, “This marks an important step forward in the delivery of a greater vision for Cardiff Bay.

“We have been working closely with the local authority, planners and International Sports Village for many months to ensure this development complements and integrates with its immediate surroundings while providing a stunning landmark that will make Cardiff Bay’s skyline instantly recognisable across the world.

“As well as providing the opportunity to live in a world-class development, Bay Pointe will also give the people of Cardiff easier access to the 14km of waterfront that has been created by the construction of the barrage. Together with the other leisure and retail elements planned for the Sports Village, Bay Pointe will transform what was previously a piece of derelict land into a dynamic, inspiring space, breathing fresh life into the already thriving and expanding Welsh capital.”

The scheme incorporates environmental credentials with green roofs, CHP capability in all buildings and Helix Turbines positioned in each tower to help lighten the energy load to common, shared areas in the towers.

The development plans have been phased for the project to complete between 2014 and 2016 subject to planning and market forces.