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Watch: Drone footage reveals progress made on Cardiff’s new canal quarter

15 Jun 2023 2 minute read
Drone footage shows the progress made on the Churchill Way development in Cardiff. Photo Knights Brown/Cardiff Council.

Ted Peskett, local democracy reporter

Drone footage has been released by Cardiff Council showing the continued progress of work to develop the city’s new canal quarter.

The drone footage, produced by Knights Brown shows bridges and viewing platforms being put in place on Churchill Way.

The development, which involves the exposure of the old dock feeder canal for the first time in over 70 years, is set to be completed in late summer 2023.

A Cardiff Council spokesperson said the current work taking place on site includes the building of concrete structures which will form the public realm area, bridges and a viewing platform.

Paving works have also started and the council added that they are expecting the area to be open to the public from September 2023.

Dock feeder canal

The dock feeder canal on Churchill Way was covered up between 1948 and 1950.

It serviced the 25-mile-long Glamorganshire Canal from Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff which brought steel and iron down to the city.

The dock-feeder also provided water to the docks in Cardiff Bay to ensure the docks could operate 24 hours a day, even at low tide.

Its uncovering is part of a wider masterplan to create a new public space with rain gardens, outdoor seating and an amphitheatre-style outdoor performance area.

Approved by Cardiff Council’s Cabinet in May 2021, the project will interlink Bridge Street, David Street, Charles Street, Tredegar Street, Guildford Crescent and Barrack Lane.

It is also hoped that the mixed-use development will attract homes, hotels, hospitality, high-quality offices, leisure and retail units.

With funding from the City Deal and Welsh Government, other improvements will be made, including a new cycleway on Station Terrace, wider pavements and improved crossing facilities around Cardiff Queen Street train station, and a new improved junction between Adam Street and Churchill Way.

The funding to bring back the dock feeder canal has been provided by Cardiff Council.


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Frank
Frank
1 year ago

I am sure there are hundreds more worthy causes than this waste of money.

Alwyn Evans
Alwyn Evans
1 year ago

The Dock Feeder’s purpose has NEVER been to ‘service’ the Glamorganshire Canal. This was always fed by the Radyr Weir feeder past Melingiriffith works which fed both the works and the canal. The Dock Feeder originated from Blackweir where the feeder runs through Bute Park, behind the castle and the across under the canal bed and North Road, parallel with Boulevard de Nantes before turning sharp right under the new building on the corner of park place and down behind the former Park Hotel and under Park Hotel buildings. It’s ONLY purpose was to provide a constant stream of fresh… Read more »

Ap Kenneth
Ap Kenneth
1 year ago
Reply to  Alwyn Evans

You beat me to the point. Still think it should be the Feeder Quarter, far better play on the name.

D E THOMAS
D E THOMAS
1 year ago
Reply to  Alwyn Evans

So true. I am old enough to remember the Glamorgan Canal through Cardiff. Or at least parts of it and the dock feeder running through what became Churchill Way.

Stephen George
Stephen George
1 year ago

I’m conflicted. While I like seeing this bit of historical Cardiff revealed, as it stands, it seems to me it’s nothing more than the world’s most expensive water feature! (I’ll withhold final judgement.)

Karl
Karl
1 year ago

Utter nonsense, canals stink. Used to be a good bus pick up and motorbike parking. Fake nostalgia is pointless

Paddy
Paddy
1 year ago
Reply to  Karl

It runs past the castle. It does not stink.

Karl
Karl
1 year ago
Reply to  Paddy

Its in nature there so has plant life to regenerate and not sure same canal anyway as that on fed differently. This section set amongst empty buildings in a section of the centre that is dead. Just like canals in Venice or Birmingham, stink in that built up unatural situation.

Glen
Glen
1 year ago

Within a week it will be full of litter and dumped nextbikes.

Frank
Frank
1 year ago
Reply to  Glen

You’re right. Whoever gave you a thumbs down does not live in the real world. Wait until the Six Nations crowd hit the streets!!!

hdavies15
hdavies15
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank

.. or hit the water ! Even more of a rumpus in those colder months. Seriously though the City Deal funding could have, maybe should have been applied to other more urgent needs. This may be a cute visitor attraction for a while but there are probably multiple other projects that could have been tackled for the benefit of the citizens of Cardiff.

Karl
Karl
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank

Be drunk swimming in there. Meanwhile the street it is in has died as the work is carried out.

Tony
Tony
1 year ago

Love the way it says funded by Cardiff council, no it’s not, it funded by us the tax payer.

George Thomas
George Thomas
1 year ago

Apart from the LGBTQ+ bars, which are great in their own right, that section of the city center is struggling. This could, could, be fantastic way of helping it thrive again and ensuring all parts of town have a bit of personality to attract visitors.

Of course people visiting Cardiff have awful attitude to litter so I fear it won’t be pretty for very long.

Dave
Dave
1 year ago

Wouldn’t it be nice if the rest of wales had a cash injection for a change. I know Cardiff is the capitol but remember wales is built of other cities, towns and villages. Enough is enough.

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