**Proposed Parking Charges at Cardiff Bay’s Former Toys R Us Car Park To Depend on Visitor Use**
A popular car park in Cardiff Bay, previously free to many visitors, could soon require payment from certain users following a new proposal by Cardiff Council. The car park, which was once the customer car park for Toys R Us, primarily serves those accessing leisure amenities at the bustling International Sports Village (ISV) in Grangetown. The potential introduction of parking charges is just one component of a broader strategy to enhance and redevelop the ISV area, according to a recent council report.
Currently, individuals making use of the leisure facilities at the ISV – such as the ice arena and swimming baths – enjoy complimentary parking at the site. However, on special event days, for example during Cardiff Devils home games, fees have already applied. The latest proposal would see parking costs introduced for those who park but do not use the ISV’s leisure offerings. Subject to cabinet approval at a meeting scheduled for Thursday, 10 July, non-leisure users would face a £2 charge for up to two hours of parking.
Leisure centre visitors would continue to benefit from a two-hour free parking period, after which charges would apply to all beyond that window. A detailed pricing scheme has been put forward: those remaining for three hours would pay £2 if using leisure facilities, or £3.50 if not. Four hours would cost £3.50 for leisure users and £4.50 for others, while a five-hour stay would rise to £4.50 or £6, respectively. An additional charge of £1 per hour would be applied for each subsequent hour.
Cardiff Council says this approach aims to balance the needs of local residents, sports fans and visitors, whilst managing congestion and supporting future development. While some may view parking charges as a deterrent, the council insists that a fair and rational pricing structure is necessary to sustain and improve the amenities in the ISV complex. Officials are also considering longer-term parking solutions, such as a new multi-storey car park or enhanced surface parking, with the exact costs and plans currently outlined in confidential documentation.
Alongside the proposed parking changes, the council has announced ambitious plans for a state-of-the-art energy centre at the International Sports Village. This facility, designed to generate renewable energy for the site’s leisure venues, is expected to play a key role in Cardiff’s push towards its net zero emissions targets. The energy centre project forms part of a multi-million pound investment in the area and is reportedly being financed without additional capital costs to the local authority, according to council sources.
Cllr Russell Goodway, cabinet member for investment and development, described the ISV project as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” to create an exemplary waterfront community. “The development of a new heat recovery facility, alongside increased national grid capacity, will protect local sports and leisure facilities from escalating energy prices and help drive down carbon emissions in line with our One Planet Cardiff commitments,” he commented.
Housing forms another major strand of the regeneration plans. Developer Orion Land & Leisure, which secured an option with the council in September 2023 for around 15 acres at the ISV, has signalled a significant shift in its plans. Planning applications submitted in August 2024 for the first wave of new homes at Cardiff Pointe are being revised after a new partnership was struck with a developer specialising in low-carbon construction. The revised approach emphasises timber-framed, low-density, and Passivhaus-standard residences that will meet strict net zero operational goals.
In a further sign of this renewed vision, Orion is withdrawing its previous outline planning application, opting instead to develop detailed applications for individual plots in line with an existing masterplan. This move, the council notes, is a response to the collaboration with a green development partner and a shared ambition for a more environmentally responsible urban extension.
Prior to a formal cabinet decision, the ISV proposals, including parking and energy initiatives, will be scrutinised by the council’s economy and culture committee in early July. As the regeneration of Cardiff Bay’s waterfront moves forward, the city council remains committed to delivering a modernised, sustainable, and accessible ISV that meets the needs of both residents and visitors. The introduction of paid parking – albeit with concessions for leisure users – seems positioned as a practical step towards that larger vision.
As with any changes affecting public infrastructure, local opinion will likely remain mixed, with some welcoming efforts to improve the area and others wary of extra charges. Nonetheless, the council argues that these changes are crucial to ensuring the future viability and environmental performance of one of Cardiff’s most important leisure and residential hubs.