MAJOR steps forward have been agreed for Cardiff’s International Sports Village (ISV) by the council.
One of the items agreed to in the city’s cabinet meeting was a permanent parking solution for the area.
The chosen site is the disused Toys R Us which can deliver around 1,000 parking spaces.
It had formerly been earmarked as a Topgolf location but, according to the report, these plans have “failed to progress”.
The report presented to council reads: “Given that the council needs to complete the ISV development without further borrowing the plan is to deliver the car parking scheme through private sector investment.”
It continues: “This will require the procurement of an energy developer who will be tasked with delivering the car parking provision, including lighting and landscaping, at the lowest cost to the council in return for rights to energy generation and energy provision through EV charging station(s), car parking solar canopies, and small aero mines (wind turbines).”
Cabinet members agreed to introduce car parking charges at the International Sports Village in July 2025. Parking had previously been free.
Formerly the council retained 2.5 acres of land at the site as a fallback option for the car park.
Now 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 – with 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, for approximately five years.
Regarding the ice arena and white water facility the cabinet endorsed that a marketing strategy be carried out to determine market interest though this would come with no commitment to sell either.
This would be on the basis that the Cardiff Devils’ position in the rink is protected through the current lease.
In regard to the international pool the report reads: “There is no commercial basis for disposal and therefore a different approach is required to minimise the scale of investment required by the council when the building reaches end of life.”
During the meeting Cllr Russell Goodway, cabinet member for investment and development, said the delivery of a permanent car park solution will bring “a number of benefits”.
He also said this was an “important step” that would “put some momentum behind the project”.
