Cardiff Canal Quarter project stalled
Ted Peskett, local democracy reporter
There is still no sign of work getting underway on the next phase of Cardiff’s highly anticipated Canal Quarter project.
It has been more than one year since the completion of a multi-million pound scheme which saw the old dock feeder canal on Churchill Way uncovered and the area around it turned into a new public space.
However, this is just the first phase of a wider project which will eventually see the city’s former canal uncovered all the way up to Tyndall Street.
Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) said the development also eventually aimed to deliver new homes, offices and retail space.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) asked Cardiff Council when work could take place on later phases of the project.
Funding
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “The Canal Quarter Development is a private/public project due to the land ownership in this area of the city.
“The uncovering of future phases of the canal and possible future transport schemes will take place when successful funding becomes available.”
One of the roles of CCR, which promoted the Canal Quarter development on its website, is to attract investment into South East Wales.
The partnership, which involves councils in the area, was approached for a comment on what it is doing to attract investment in order to get work on the next phases of the Canal Quarter project started.
Cardiff Council, Atkins Realis and Knights Brown won an award for the first phase of the Canal Quarter development in 2024.
‘New urban district’
The local authority said the wider development could “open the potential to deliver a new urban district” which would see the regeneration of Bridge Street, David Street, Charles Street, Tredegar Street, Guildford Crescent, and Barrack Lane.
In the 1830s, the dock feeder ran from the River Taff in Blackweir down to Cardiff Docks to maintain the water levels in Cardiff’s Bute Dock.
This allowed the dock to operate 24 hours a day, even at low tide, servicing a 25-mile-long Glamorganshire Canal from Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff to bring steel and iron down to the city.
The Glamorganshire Canal was covered up between 1948 and 1950, with the the Dock Feeder on Churchill Way being covered over with concrete beams and a carriageway built over the top of it.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
It is probably embarrassed, how one canal is so lavished upon while another is treated as a future footpath with a stagnant water feature…
Cardiff, the many (two) faces of Cardiff and Desolation Bay…
Can we have a clock to count down the days…
All those folks wanting to swap Little Venice, Maida Vale for an artist’s impression of how Cardiff sees itself…arrive by sea and cry…
Feeder Canal; to keep the docks working 24/7…
I suppose the Irony will be missed…
It is neither of use nor ornament, a Victorian would have been most scornful…
So even Nation. Cymru falls for the old woves’ tale that the Dock Feeder has something to do with the Glamorganshire Canal. It DOESN’T! The Dock Feeder runs from Blackweir, through Bute Park CROSSED OVER the Glamoganshire Canal in an aqueduct at the north-east corner of the castle, continues along what is now the line of the Boulevard de Nantes to Park Place takes a right turn under the new building on the corner then down behind the former Park Hotel to be uncovered on Churchill Way. It can also be seen onTyndal Streetwhich crosses it . It did indeed… Read more »
Premier Inn eh! They do like to be beside the waterside, my one-liner was correct tho regardless of old ‘woves’ tales…
Bute East dock is still water, Bute West dock is filled in and parkland, the two either side of what is now known as Atlantic Wharf.
Absolute waste of money, I have no doubt that they will advise us shortly that due to rising costs the plans will be amended as a cost cutting exercise.
The city is starting to look worse and worse yet these vanity projects keep getting approved.
When they do these kind of projects they should see it through from start to finish, making sure everything is in place including funding before they start. What they’ve done so far.is hardly attractive in anyway. I thought that was it for the canal. Nothing more, until I saw this article.
This issue highlights the failings of UK project management – lots of consultants involved, funding released in small amounts and no clear plan. Ten years ago the European Union changed its’ project delivery methodology with Rail Baltica – a plan on one page a new slow freight focused railway through Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia with links to new airports, seaports and road networks. They created one management team which was led by a procurement manager who i used to mentor. This approach enabled the well-paid design roles for all the projects to be based in the region and not locations… Read more »
Lots of Consultants…as long as the ‘Bow Ties’ get theirs it doesn’t really matter what happens after…think EU money…white elephant anybody, more vultures above the herd…
It is certainly not highly anticipated. To call the open drain they’ve created in Churchill Way a canal is embarrassing. A colossal waste of money that’s done nothing to improve the area. I hope the project is dead and any further funds are spent on something that actually benefits the people of Cardiff.
Actually it’s a big boost for the east end of the city centre that was dying. Already new businesses have opened as a result, and more private developments have applications in the pipeline. The area is now busy with people enjoying their lunch in the sun. The only thing missing is talented buskers on the stage.
If you read in to the history of Cardiff, it’s quite horrifying to discover how much was lost. Multiple canals, town walls, a monastery, to name a few. There was much beauty in the city centre once, but all we can manage these days are over priced beige blocks.
…..and all the litter and other rubbish strewn across the streets , combined with the cracked pavements and dirty buildings adds to the ambience.
Queen Street’s paving and street furniture is tatty and filthy, that’s true.
Maybe they realised having a open sewer wasn’t a good idea
Maybe it was in your day but the Victorians have since installed a proper sewerage system.