A number of changes are coming to Cardiff’s International Sports Village, including hundreds of car parking spaces that people will have to pay for and a new public open space.
The plans, which will be discussed by Cardiff Council’s cabinet members on Thursday, March 19, are designed to accelerate the next phase of regeneration at the site in Grangetown.
The proposals going before cabinet members next week include a circa-900 space car park that can generate renewable energy and a new public open space on land between the ice arena and the waterfront.
A financial plan and proposals to support the long term future of the site’s major leisure attractions, including Cardiff Ice Arena, Cardiff International White Water, and Cardiff International Pool, have also been put forward by the council.
Cabinet members agreed to introduce car parking charges at the International Sports Village in July 2025. Parking had previously been free.
Following consultation, a ‘two‑hours free’ concession was agreed for sport and leisure users.
The council is also considering a season ticket arrangement for resident sports clubs using the facilities frequently for competition‑level training.
Cabinet member for investment and development, Cllr Russell Goodway said: “These proposals will help unlock the next phase in the development of a world-class waterfront community at the International Sports Village”
He continued: “Crucially, the plans will enable the scheme to be completed without further Council borrowing, using a funding approach based on capital receipts and private sector investment linked to renewable energy generation and EV charging infrastructure.”
The council has a planning obligation to provide car parking to serve the ISV, with a minimum requirement of around 900 spaces.
It has been recommended that the best location for long-term parking would be the site of the former Toys R Us, which has the capacity to potentially deliver around 1,000 spaces.
Previously, the council earmarked this location for a Topgolf
The car park would be delivered through investment from a private sector energy developer.
The developer would deliver the car park (including lighting and landscaping) in return for rights to energy generation and provision through electric vehicle charging facilities, solar canopies and small “aero-mine” wind turbines.
Formerly, the council retained 2.5-acres of land at the site as a fallback option for the carpark. Now that the former Toys R Us building has been identified as the preferred location, the area can now be developed into a green or open space amenity area.
The council retains ownership of three major attractions at the ISV, Cardiff International White Water, Cardiff Ice Arena, and Cardiff International Pool, each under different operating arrangements.
Cardiff White Water is directly operated by the council while the international pool is currently leased to Parkwood Leisure, which includes maintenance obligations to expire in approximately five years.
There is no commercial basis for the disposal of the facility, instead the council is considering alternative operating models that could release funding for investment in infrastructure.
Regarding the ice arena, the report proposed that soft-marketing testing be carried out to determine market interest; this would come with no commitment to sell the ice arena.
This would be on the basis that the Cardiff Devils’ position in the rink is protected through the current lease.
The council has been approached by a third party potentially interested in acquiring the white water rafting centre, as a result a soft marketing exercise for the facility is proposed in the report.
The proposals will be considered by the council’s cabinet on March 19.
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