Cardiff Bay 1 Cardiff Bay Cardiff Bay Welsh: Bae Caerdydd The Bay or Tiger Bay Cardiff Bay Cardiff Bay shown within Wales Country Wales Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town CARDIFF Postcode district CF10 Dialling code 029 EU Parliament Wales Welsh Assembly Cardiff South & Penarth Website http:/ / www. cardiffharbour. com/ Cardiff Harbour Authority List of places: UK • Wales • Cardiff Bay (Welsh: Bae Caerdydd) is the area created by the Cardiff Barrage in South Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The regeneration of Cardiff Bay is now widely regarded as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the United Kingdom.[1] The Bay is supplied by two rivers (Taff and Ely) to form a 500-acre (2.0 km2) freshwater lake round the former dockland area south of the city centre. The Bay was formerly tidal, with access to the sea limited to a couple of hours each side of high water but now provides 24 hour access through three locks[2] . History Cardiff Bay played a major part in Cardiff’s development by being the means of exporting coal from the South Wales Valleys to the rest of the world, helping to power the industrial age. The coal mining industry helped fund the building of Cardiff into the Capital city of Wales and helped the Third Marquis of Bute, who owned the docks, become the richest man in the world at the time. As Cardiff exports grew, so did its population; dockworkers and sailors from across the world settled in neighbourhoods close to the docks, known as Tiger Bay, and communities from up to 45 different nationalities, including Norwegian, Somali, Yemeni, Spanish, Italian, Caribbean and Irish helped create the unique multicultural character of the area. After the Second World War most of the industry closed down and became derelict. But, in 1999, new life was injected into the area by the building of the Cardiff Bay Barrage, one of the most controversial building projects of Cardiff Bay 2 the day but also one of the most successful[3] . Development The Cardiff Bay Development Corporation (CBDC) was created in 1987 to stimulate the redevelopment of 1,100 hectares (2,700 acres) of derelict land[4] . The Development Corporation aimed to attract private capital by spending public money to improve the area. Despite opposition by environmentalists and wildlife organisations, the mudflats at the mouths of the River Taff and River Ely were inundated, with loss of habitat for wading birds. The Barrage has created several new habitats for freshwater species with the wetlands to the south of the Hamadryad Park. When the Development Corporation was wound up in on 31 March 2000, it had achieved many of its objectives. The whole area was unrecognisable from ten years before. Much private land was now open to the public, particularly around the inner harbour and the north side of Roath basin. Work is progressing to complete a 13 kilometre walkway around the Bay and the Barrage has created a world-class environment. In addition the development has enabled land in the city centre to be redeveloped for higher-value uses.[5] Cardiff Bay in 2008 The development of "something like 1,250 apartments a year"[6] however might cause future problems, as currently (2008) up to one third are not occupied. Critics such as Lorraine Barrett (AM Labour, Cardiff South and Penarth) say, the flat complexes will not help to build up a community and too little attention has been paid to develop affordable housing. With the recent falls in property values, sales in the area have become problematic. Therefore landlords might be more willing to rent their places out to "people who may not be suited to that type of living."[7] Connecting the Bay area to the centre of Cardiff was a primary goal when plans to develop the docklands were first mooted. Original plans included a grand boulevard (similar to where Lloyd George Avenue is located now) with high density commercial and residential units straddling both sides. This would have created significant demand for quality public transport provisions facilitating connections to the new Bay area but public transport was often of poor quality and, but there are now much improved connections through the Cardiff Bus BayCar service and rail service from Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay railway station. Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre (The Tube), from Waterbus Cardiff Bay 3 Notable buildings St David's Hotel The St David's Hotel and Spa is a 5-star luxury hotel with commanding views of the Bay and Penarth.[8] Built by Rocco Forte in 2000, the hotel was sold in 2007 to Principal-Haley hotels. Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre A unique building known locally as 'The Tube' managed by Cardiff Harbour Authority housing exhibitions and providing visitor The Wales Millennium Centre, seen from Roald information. Dahl Plass The Pierhead Building The Pierhead was built in 1897 and designed by William Frame, who studied under William Burgess[9] It was formerly the headquarters of the Bute Dock Company. The Senedd The Senedd is the National Assembly for Wales building which includes the debating chamber and committee rooms. Wales Millennium Centre The Wales Millennium Centre is home to the Welsh National Opera. Debating chamber of the Senedd Norwegian Church The Norwegian Church Arts Centre, is a rescued historic wooden church that was rebuilt in 1992 and is now managed by Cardiff Harbour Authority as a venue for small concerts and art exhibitions[10] . When living in Cardiff as a child, the famous children's author Roald Dahl attended this church. Craft in the Bay A refurbished Victorian dockside building houses Craft in the Bay, the home of the Makers Guild in Wales. Norwegian Church from the water Cardiff Bay 4 Techniquest Techniquest is an educational science centre. Roald Dahl Plass Roald Dahl Plass is a large open amphitheatre style plaza frequently used as a venue for carnivals and festivals all year round. Mermaid Quay Mermaid Quay comprises a mix of restaurants, bars, cafés, shops and Mermaid Quay services located on the waterfront Water-based attractions • Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve - which has rare birds and a boardwalk leading to a viewing platform • Cardiff Waterbus - which offers a public transport service and tourist cruises • Cardiff Bay Barrage - accessible via the Water Bus and by road, and free to explore and also has guided tours • Helwick Lightship - a restored old red Lightvessel with a cafe on board. • Queen Alexandra Dock • Cardiff International Pool • Cardiff International White Water • Cardiff Sailing Centre - A council run watersports facility based on Cardiff Bay Barrage • Cardiff Yacht Club - dinghy racing and cruising, yacht racing and cruising, sea fishing and rowing • Cardiff Bay Yacht Club - premier watersports club in South Wales • Cardiff City Rowing Club Commercial and residential • Style-conscious shops, bars and restaurants at Mermaid Quay. • Cardiff Bay Retail Park • Mischief's Cafe Bar, a cafe bar and live music venue. • The Coal Exchange (aka The Exchange Centre), a venue for staged events. • Harry Ramsden's fish and chip bar - a large, prominent building. • Cardiff Bay Ice Rink • Cardiff International Sports Village • The Red Dragon Centre (formerly Atlantic Wharf Leisure Village), a leisure and entertainment complex with a Doctor Who exhibit. Cardiff Bay 5 Appearances in the media Cardiff Bay was used as the high-tech urban setting for the Ninth Doctor Doctor Who episode Boom Town and for the Torchwood spinoff, whose makers deliberately avoided stereotypical portrayals of Wales in order to portray Cardiff as it is today, a modern urban centre. In the Torchwood series, there is a giant underground base, secretly under-neath the Bay named "The Hub" from where the Torchwood team work. There is also a lift from the hub into the plaza with a Roald Dahl Plass and the Millennium Centre are perception filter making anyone who stands on the spot "Not often used in external shots of the Torchwood [11] noticed". Roald Dahl Plass features prominently. Hub in Doctor Who and Torchwood. Also the Tenth Doctor Doctor Who Christmas Special (2006), "The Runaway Bride" [12] made use of office buildings in the Cardiff Bay. Transport Cardiff Bay railway station is northeast of Mermaid Quay and is served by shuttle services to Cardiff Queen Street railway station. Cardiff Bus operates the following services to the Bay: • 1 - Bay Circle clockwise: Grangetown-Leckwith-Canton-Fairwater-Llandaff-Gabalfa-Heath-Penylan-Roath-Tremorfa-Central Station • 2 - Bay Circle anticlockwise: as above but reversed • 6 - Baycar: Queen Street station via Central Station • 8 - University Hospital of Wales via Grangetown, Central Station, Roath, Cathays and Heath • 11 - Pengam Green via Central Station and Tremorfa • 35 - Gabalfa via Central Station, Cathays and Heath The Bay lies of the A4232 before the Butetown tunnels and is linked to the city centre by Lloyd George Avenue or Bute Street. A cycle hire system, similar to those in other large cities, launched in September 2009, and includes 70 bikes and 35 hire points (initially 7) around the centre and the south of the city. The current stations are: Central Station; Cardiff Bay Station; County Hall; Cardiff Bay Visitors’ Centre; Churchill Way; City Hall and eastern Queen Street. It is necessary to register before using bike. The first half an hour is free after which a small hourly fee is payable.[13] [14] See also • Tiger Bay • Butetown • List of places in Cardiff • Penarth Marina • Cardiff Cardiff Bay 6 External links • Cardiff Harbour Authority [15] • Cardiff Bay Website [16] • A map of Cardiff Bay [17] • Virtual tour of Cardiff Bay [18] References [1] Cardiff Bay Economic Development, Cardiff: Cardiff Council, April 2005, pp. 8 [2] Cardiff Harbour Authority, [http: http:/ / www.