Cardiff, Wales! To be more accurate, Cardiff Bay, the once world’s biggest coal port, is regarded today as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the United Kingdom. Let’s explore the story behind it.
As it appears, Cardiff Bay always played an important role in the city’s development as it was a major port of exporting coal from the South Wales Valleys to the rest of the world, helping flourishing the industry age until the Second World War. After that, most of the industry closed down and a new life was injected to the area after building the Cardiff Bay Barrage in 1999.
The idea of the barrage was suggested way back, in late 1980’s, as a good way to regenerate the whole area. Eventually, the construction of the barrage, one of the largest engineering projects in Europe, creates a large freshwater lake of 2 km2 with 13km of waterfront. As a result, the well-known Cardiff Docklands were fully rejuvenated, preserving at the same time the history and the tradition of the bay.
To every new step forward there are people opposing, stating their arguments and in this case questioning the welfare of the area. The objections were severe and there were fears about a potential increase on the groundwater levels, the polluted waters and even for the area becoming a ghetto for the rich.
However, the water quality is under the control of the Environment Agency and the barrage has boosted the local economy, creating many new job opportunities by the residential, business, retail and leisure developments.
Cardiff Bay is a magnet to tourists and has helped the city and the country to be in the international spotlight. So, besides the largest waterfront development is also the most attractive one; totally worth a visit.
Croeso!
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