International Sports Village Plans to Move Forward

Plans to accelerate the completion of the International Sports Village (ISV) in Cardiff are set to take a step forward.Following the acquisition of all undeveloped land at the ISV peninsula, the Cardiff Council’s Cabinet agreed in principle to enter into an option agreement with Cardiff Peninsula Consortium Ltd last December.Work to develop the legal agreements has now been completed and the Cabinet will be asked to sign them off when it meets next week.A report published ahead of the meeting also revealed further details about the energy strategy for the site, which subject to successful funding applications, could see a low carbon heat exchange developed to link the International Pool and the Ice Arena, with the swimming pools being heated using heat created in the process of making ice for the arena.The strategy could also see solar PV installed on existing facilities including the Ice Arena, the International Pool, Cardiff International White Water, and the former Toys R Us building.The council had hoped to bring forward plans to finish off the sport and leisure attraction but further work is required to complete the business case given the increase in prices resulting from the current economic conditions.The report also identifies a series of ‘next steps’ to progress the ISV development, including completing an agreement with the approved developer this summer to enable work to begin on planning applications.Cllr Russell Goodway, cabinet member for investment and development, said: “Moving forward with our land disposal strategy will allow some momentum to grow on the completion of the residential and commercial plots at the International Sports Village.”The ISV is a priority for the council and, despite the challenges posed by the rising interest rates and inflation currently being experienced across the UK economy, we remain committed to our ambition of establishing the area as a premier UK sport and leisure destination.”The land disposal strategy allows the council to retain land ownership throughout the phases of development, rather than disposing of the whole site in one go.