Green light for Cardiff arena

Plans for a 17,000-capacity arena and hotel at Cardiff’s Atlantic Wharf have been approved. The project is expected to create 1,000 jobs.Phase one of the wider multimillion-pound regeneration of the area – which includes these two major elements – has officially been backed.With Robertson Group as developer and Live Nation and Oak View Group as joint operators, the arena will offer Cardiff the opportunity to host some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry.It will also help attract millions of visitors to the city and generate wider economic activity for hotels, restaurants, and bars.Set to create 1,000 jobs when complete, construction is expected to start later this year, during which time a further 2,000 jobs will be needed.Phase One of the development formed part of a hybrid application that was submitted in November 2021.The plans for the wider masterplan, which have also been approved, will be further developed to allow detailed applications to be submitted for up to 890 residential dwellings and 1,090 hotel bed spaces, as well as office, leisure and retail space.Both the arena and the wider masterplan are in line with Cardiff Council’s 2030 climate neutral aspirations.