Construction for a new integrated transport hub in Cardiff, expected to cost £11 million, should begin this year, following an announcement by the council that a site near the central train station has been given the nod.
Cardiff City Council considered several locations for the bus station replacement, including one to the south of the railway station, which Network Rail owns, but decided on the NCP car park and Marland House land owned by the council.
This new hub will be incorporated into the regeneration project based around Central Square, which is set to lead to the creation of approximately a million square feet in leisure, residential and office space in this part of Cardiff.
The regeneration should prove a major fillip to the city’s economy, including companies supplying business card printing in Cardiff for start-ups moving into the new offices.
Cardiff council will now work alongside transport operators on the development of a detailed financial plan and design for the hub, with the aim of having this ready to submit for approval in April, and the hope is that the hub itself will be finished by 2017.
The council has confirmed that a temporary infrastructure will be put in place – including new stops in Havelock Street, Wood Street, Westgate Street and St Mary’s Street – to minimise the disruption to passengers and bus operators throughout the period of construction.
