Cardiff Bus Interchange

Cardiff Bus Interchange[1] (Welsh: Cyfnewidfa Fysiau Caerdydd); formerly Cardiff Transport Interchange (Welsh: Cyfnewidfa Drafnidiaeth Caerdydd), sometimes Cardiff Interchange or The Interchange) is a new bus and transport interchange, as well as offices and apartments, in the centre of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. It has been under construction since 2020 and is due for completion in 2024. Once completed it will be run by the Welsh Government's transport arm, Transport for Wales. The bus station at the southern end of the complex is eight storeys high with 14-bays for buses on the ground floor, whilst the Interchange Tower at the northern end has 318 for-rent apartments, two floors of office space, and a retail unit on the ground floor.

For the Cardiff bus station until 2015, see Cardiff Central bus station.

Cardiff Bus Interchange
Bus station, offices and apartments
Cardiff Bus Interchange in July 2023
The Interchange Tower in October 2020
The Interchange Tower in April 2023
Cardiff Bus Interchange in July 2023
General information
LocationCentral Square, Cardiff
Wales
Owned byWelsh Government (site)
Operated byTransport for Wales
Bus stands14
ConnectionsCardiff Central railway station
History
Opening2023 (2023)

Background
Construction of the Interchange's offices and bus station
January 2021
September 2021
April 2023

Cardiff Central bus station had originally been built, directly to the north of what is now Cardiff Central railway station, in 1954. The old terminus building was demolished in 2008 and, in 2010, options were put to the public for a multi-million pound bus station redevelopment or replacement.[2] In 2014 a "Capital Square" masterplan for Central Square (the former bus station site) was revealed, led by developers Rightacres Property, including a new headquarters building for BBC Cymru Wales.[3] The old bus station finally closed in August 2015.[4] A replacement was expected to be completed by 2017, designed by Foster and Partners, on the site of the nearby Marland House and Wood Street NCP multi-storey carpark. As well as a new bus station it also included offices, shops and a hotel.[4]

In 2016 the Marland House office block and the neighbouring NCP Wood Street multi-storey car park were demolished. It was planned to site the 'Central Transport Interchange' on this site, with walkways linking it to the railway station.[5]

Foster and Partners were dropped from the project in 2018, after the Welsh Government took over responsibility from Cardiff Council, though by this point the architecture firm had completely redesigned the proposals.[6]

Development
Demolished buildings to make way for the Bus Interchange
Marland House
NCP Wood Street multi-storey car park

The Welsh Government bought the Marland House site from Cardiff Council for £12 million and carried out £3 million of preparatory work. In April 2018 the new design for the 'Metro Central Interchange' was revealed, designed by local architects Holder Mathias Architects based on concepts by Foster and Partners.[7] The Interchange would include a 14-stand bus station with a covered concourse and 500 cycle spaces. Once completed, the Interchange would be run by the Welsh Government's not-for-profit subsidiary, Transport for Wales, intended to bring together an integrated transport system.[7]

In July 2019 it was announced that contracts had finally been signed between the Welsh Government, finance company Legal & General, and the developers Rightacres, to begin work constructing the scheme. Construction was expected to begin at the end of the year, after a major drain had been relocated.[8]

Having previously built the adjacent BBC Cymru Wales New Broadcasting House and 2 Central Square, in December 2019 construction company ISG secured the £89 million contract to build the new Cardiff Bus Interchange. The Interchange is funded by Legal & General. As well as the covered 14-bay bus station, the Interchange includes 318 rented apartments, about 90,000 square feet (8,400 m2) of office accommodation and a retail unit.[9]

In October 2020 Legal & General pledged £400 million of forward funding to build a new headquarters office building for its 2,000 staff, as part of the Interchange development.[10]

Originally planned for completion in 2022, it was revealed in July 2023 that the bus station would be accessible by the end of the year, though not fully operational until 2024.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Completion of Cardiff bus station delayed yet again as capital goes eight years without one". Wales Online. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  2. Alford, Abby (3 December 2010). "Revamp for bus station coming at last - Cardiff news - CardiffOnline". WalesOnline. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  3. "BBC Wales HQ at bus station site". BBC News. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  4. "Cardiff bus station closes for Central Square redevelopment". BBC News. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  5. "Demolition of Cardiff city centre 'eyesore' starts". BBC News. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  6. Mosalski, Ruth (6 April 2018). "The design of Cardiff's new bus station is up in the air – again". Wales Online. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  7. Gregory, Rhys (18 April 2018). "Cardiff's new bus station design revealed". BBC News. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  8. Mosalski, Ruth (30 July 2020). "Cardiff's bus station is finally going to be built - but won't open for another four years". Wales Online. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  9. Gregory, Rhys (3 December 2019). "ISG secures £89 million Cardiff transport interchange project". Wales247. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  10. Barry, Sion (29 October 2020). "Legal & General investing in new HQ in the centre of Cardiff for nearly 2,000 staff". Business Live. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

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