Proposals designed to accelerate the next phase of regeneration at Cardiff International Sports Village, including a plan for a permanent circa 900-space car park with the ability to generate renewable energy has been announced.
Plans also include the release of new land for amenity development such as public open space, have been published in a report due to be considered by Cardiff Council’s Cabinet at their next meeting.
The report, which provides an update on progress at the ISV and sets out a financial plan to enable the development to be completed without further Council borrowing, also reveals 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.
Cabinet Member for Investment & 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.
“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.”
Permanent car parking solution proposed
The Council has a planning obligation to provide car parking to serve the ISV attractions, with a minimum requirement of around 900 spaces.
Orion Land & Leisure – the Council’s development partner for the residential development – secured planning permission for the development of the current International Pool car park in autumn 2025. Construction is expected to commence in late 2026, making it essential to relocate the International Pool car park.
The report recommends that the optimum location for a long‑term, surface‑based car parking solution would be the former Toys R Us site, which has the capacity to potentially deliver around 1,000 spaces.
This location offers the required capacity without needing to demolish the Toys R Us building. It provides good access to existing attractions, with the opportunity to further improve the pedestrian connections across the site.
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.
Local stakeholder engagement will continue throughout the development process.
Keeping access fair for sport and leisure users
In July 2025, Cabinet agreed to introduce parking charges at the ISV, aligned with car parking facilities across the city. 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.
Amenity development
The council had previously retained a 2.5-acre parcel of land between the ice arena and the waterfront as a fallback option for a car park. However, with the former Toys R Us site identified as the preferred location for car parking, this area can now be released and used for development as a green or public open space and other amenity development, improving the overall quality of wider ISV development.
Work to repair and replace an 80-metre section of the Boardwalk adjoining existing residential units on the former Cardiff Pointe site was completed by Kier in autumn 2025. The new composite boards have a minimum lifespan of 20 years. Subject to the agreement of residents, it is proposed that ownership will be transferred to the Council.
Supporting the long‑term future of leisure attractions
The Council retains ownership of three major attractions at the ISV—Cardiff International White Water (CIWW), Cardiff Ice Arena, and Cardiff International Pool—each under different operating arrangements.
CIWW is operated directly by the Council, whilst day‑to‑day operation and liabilities for Cardiff Ice Arena and the International Pool have been transferred to external operators.
The Council retains a significant long‑term maintenance risk on all 3 venues. As the buildings move towards being 25-30 years old, there is the likelihood that significant investment will be needed—the International Pool is likely to be the first.
Decarbonisation also needs to be considered as the facilities are currently among the Council’s largest energy users. A number of recommendations are made in the report to enable the Council to better understand potential future options and reduce future risk.
Cardiff International Pool
The pool is currently leased to Parkwood Leisure. This lease, which includes maintenance obligations is due to expire in approximately 5 years. The expiry of the lease is likely to coincide with the need for key equipment to be replaced.
Given the current lease arrangements, the age of the building at the end of the current term, and the commercial challenges associated with operating swimming pools, 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.
Cardiff Ice Arena
The report proposes that soft-marketing testing is carried out for Cardiff Ice Arena to see if there is any market interest in acquiring the asset. This would be on the firm basis that the Cardiff Devils position in the rink is protected through their current operational lease.
Although Cardiff Ice Arena is a younger building and major investment will not be required as soon as the other facilities, it was never intended for long-term Council ownership and the capital investment in the asset forms part of the overall debt currently being carried by the Council for the regeneration of the ISV site.
A soft marketing exercise would come with no commitment to sell the Ice Arena, and a further report would be brought back to Cabinet in future for the market response to be considered.
In order to maximise the potential of the proposed market exercise, the Council would like to agree the relocation of Fun HQ – the current sub-tenant occupying the second ice pad.
Cardiff International White Water
The Council has been approached by a third party potentially interested in acquiring CIWW. As a result, a soft marketing exercise for the facility is now proposed in the report.
The exercise would test the market and explore the appointment of an external operator for the facility, as well as the potential sale of the facility. The exercise would solely be to determine if significant interest exists and the nature of offers that could be received. A report on the market response will be brought back to a future meeting of Cabinet for consideration.
The full Cabinet Report will be considered by Cabinet on 19 March 2026.
