CARDIFF BAY REDEVELOPMENT THE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS CLAIRE

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Cardiff Bay Redevelopment; The Economic and Environmental Impacts

Cardiff Bay Redevelopment; The Economic and Environmental Impacts Claire Earlie

Cardiff is the capital city of Wales and one of the largest cities in the UK today, with a population of over 300,000 and more than 2 million residents living within one hours drive from the city. It is situated on the South East coast of Wales on the Severn Estuary, the body of water that separates England from Wales off the Bristol Channel. Cardiff Bay is the estuary where the rivers Taff and Ely meet the Severn and is currently a small growing city of its own and experiences the second largest tidal range in the world, over 14m (1). Since 1987 one of the most expensive and largest engineering and investment projects has been taking place, the construction of the Cardiff Bay Barrage and the redevelopment of the neglected docklands. This project has cost a total of over 220 million pounds and has taken over 11 years to complete, however further construction and maintenance are ongoing (4). There were many reasons for the construction for the new bay; to allow accessibility at any time of day, to encourage public use of the bay, to improve the health aspect and to bring money to the area. However, there has been a great deal of controversy and conflict by many different parties over the years as to whether or not the bay should be redeveloped and if the economic benefits outweigh the environmental impacts.

Cardiff was designated a city by King Edward VII in 1905. From the early part of the 18^th century until the early 1920’s the world’s shipping industry relied on the coal mined from the Valleys of South Wales. This huge demand for coal and steel allowed Cardiff to prosper as a popular port, however after World War 1 and the need for these fuels declining, Cardiff’s industry and hence city began its collapse as the world began to depend upon oil instead (3). The city itself continued to grow through the early part of the century, as Cardiff became a popular place to live, yet the docklands were still a 3000-acre area of derelict buildings and neglected houses. In 1955, the City was made the Capital City of Wales and more thought was directed towards the improvement of the area. In 1987 the decision was made to improve Cardiff Bay from it’s dreary, run- down reputation into a thriving exciting waterfront. This decision was not only made for economic reasons but for environmental ones also, as the exposed mud flats provided the Bay with a strong sewage smell and unsightly scenery.

Therefore, in 1987, the CBDC, Cardiff Bay Development Corporation was established by the- at that time, Welsh Secretary, Nicholas Edwards. Its mission was to

“…Put Cardiff on the map as a superlative maritime city which will stand in comparison with any such city in the world, enhance the image and economic well being of Cardiff and Wales as a whole..” (2)

The main reason for the project was economical. Studies showed that ‘ business and investment come to astethically pleasing areas, in particular the sea and lakes..’ (7). This meant the scheme would definitely benefit the area economically as Cardiff Bay was once a prosperous port and still had the potential to be a successful and attractive area to both businesses and tourists. Before the project was completed, it was estimated that 1.6 billion pounds of investment would be made, 30,000 jobs would be created and 4 million square feet of office space would be used. The Bay would provide visitor potential and local communities would benefit. These totals have been exceeded and are still growing today, visitors come from all over Europe to visit ‘The Bay’ and local communities have benefited by means of employment and living in a cleaner environment. (1)

The other reasons for the CBDC to go ahead with their plans to ‘tidy up Cardiff’ were of environmental influence. When the Docks were constructed during the late part of the 18th century, mud flats were created and were filled with the pollutants deposited from the River Taff and the River Ely. As Cardiff experiences an extremely large tidal range, these mud flats were exposed for most of the day. This was not only unsightly to the public but it left the bay unusable, not to mention the smell on a mild summers day. These run off pollutants were from the mining industry in the Valleys, the paper factories in the Vale of Glamorgan and the raw sewage from the population of Cardiff and surrounding areas. The outcome would be to incorporate a water treatment facility into the redevelopment with a new sewage system. This seemed to provide Cardiff Bay with a healthier environment for its residents and visitors. The Barrage, creating an artificial freshwater lake was also thought to provide flood defense to the city, as it would better control the flows of the two rivers.

After the CBDC was established and their main aims were presented to the population of South Wales, plans commenced. As a result of these plans, the total cost for the barrage and the redevelopment was 220 million pounds. The project took 11 years from 1987 to March 2000 and the actual construction of the barrage took 5 years, day and night (4). The result was a freshwater lake creating 13km of permanent waterfront, a barrage 1.1km in length with an 800m embankment of rock and sand on both sides, three locks and bascule bridges for boats to access the Bay, five sluice gates to regulate the water levels, a fish pass to allow migrating salmon back into the Taff and the Ely, 3000 acres of vastly improved docklands, restaurants, cinema complexes, hotels, offices, cafes, bars, shopping centers with pedestrianised pavements, luxury apartments and ample recreation and tourism (5). It is also the current home of the National Assembly, ‘Plaid Cymru’, Wales’ own government.

Environmentalists quickly overlooked the potential economic success and the Cardiff Bay Redevelopment Scheme soon became an environmental controversy.

Cardiff Bay is designated an SSSI; a Site of Specific Scientific Interest, the Severn Estuary is also an SSSI as well as an SPA; a Special Protection Area. The polluted mudflats of Cardiff Bay once provided a home for many burrowing invertebrates and hence the habitat of a colony of 6000 rare migrating wader birds, mainly Redshanks and Dunlins (1). The plans to flood the Bay left the RSPB (The Royal Protection for the Society for Birds) Friends of the Earth, the Environmental Agency and many other wildlife groups up in arms with protests. Friends of the Earth and the RSPB came together in 1988 to make a ten-year campaign against the project (3). Other concerns were raised by local groups, concerning a potential 3m rise in ground water levels. However, since the project has been completed, there has been no evidence of this. Algal blooms were feared due to the stagnation of the lake and the inflow of nutrients from the rivers. A suggested solution to this in 1988 was the treatment of the water and if needed, the flushing of the lake. This expensive process took place last March.

In 1997, Friends of the Earth issued a Press release, commenting on the actions taken by the Welsh Government and the hypocrisy involved in the project (8). Members of Parliament and head secretaries of the National Assembly Ron Davies, Peter Hain and Wyn Griffiths were in opposition to the plan when Welsh Office Ministers refused to designate Cardiff as an SPA. Ron Davies was quoted on November 2^nd 1994 in the Western Mail

“…I have never believed that the Barrage will achieve the things that it is said it will achieve and, if at all possible, the contract will be cancelled…”(8)

Win Griffiths stated in the Hansard on October 20^th in 1992

“…It is vital to retain the mudflats so that the migratory and wading birds can have the benefit of those feeding grounds…”(8)

However after a secretive review without the presence or awareness of the public and the wildlife concern groups, the decision to commence with the construction of the Barrage and the redevelopment of the bay was supported fully by these very same members of parliament.

Ron Davies was later quoted in Hansard on July 4^th 1997

“…I have undertaken thorough review of Cardiff Bay Barrage Project. IN the course of the review, I have received and considered legal opinion and an analysis of the economic impact of the barrage. In the light of their advice I have concluded that the Barrage should be completed.”(8)

Due to this huge controversy, a compromise had to be met between the two opposing parties. To allow sustainable development meant that an adequate area of habitat was to be created and maintained in a suitable manner, funded by CBDC, to support the at the time existing animal and plant populations.

This was the point when the 10 million pound creation of a habitat came into play. 15miles along the coast, in the Gwent levels a 1000-acre wetland reserve was created to compensate for the loss of habitat. This development was a success and is now one of the most important SSSI rare bird sites in the UK today.

“..Water level would rise 1ft to provide home for birds…eventually there will be 1000’s of birds here…” (Mark Underhill, BBC News, 1998) (7).

This is now true, however the full migration may take up to a further five years. The construction of a new sewage tunnel was completed underground before the uplands were flooded.

Friends of the Earth, RSPB and other concerned groups were still in opposition with the development yet they agreed to compromise.

Before the development went ahead, the two opposing factors had very strong arguments and the decision of economical benefits over environmental impacts must have been a difficult one to make for Plaid Cymru. I feel that the final decision was in Cardiff’s best interests as an environmental compromise was met and has so far proved to be a success. The evidence of this can be seen simply by looking around Cardiff. It has improved immensely over the past decade from a derelict area to a booming city. It has introduced a huge amount of tourism to the city; it is now considered a popular place to visit and to live. Jobs have been created and the bay has also improved environmentally. Personally, as a resident of Cardiff, the project has given my generation and others, employment, recreation and a pleasant living environment. Regardless of all of the political hypocrisy, the environmental conflict and other issues that delayed the process, the Cardiff Bay Redevelopment has been a success economically as well as environmentally.

References.

1) The Cardiff Bay Barrage- Stephen Doughty, Mega Project 1997

www.pearson-college.uwc.ca/pearson/ensy/mega/stephen/stephen.htm

2) Case Study- Cardiff Bay Development Corporation

www.quadrantpr.co.uk/casestudy.cfm?ID=1

3) BBC News, Wales, Final step for Cardiff Bay Barrage

www.news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/UK/wales/newsid_503000/503837/stm

4) Press Notice; Auditor General for Wales report, The Cardiff Bay Barrage 5 July 2000

www.agw.wales.gov.uk/notices/2000/agw2000_4pn.htm

5) Cardiff Bay Barrage

www.geocities.com/colinswalesuk/barrage.html

6) Data Wales; The Cardiff Bay Barrage