**Cardiff’s Canal Quarter: One Year On From Phase One—Questions Linger Over Future Progress**
More than twelve months have passed since Cardiff proudly unveiled the first phase of its ambitious Canal Quarter redevelopment, yet the city’s residents are still left waiting for news on what comes next. The initial phase, which focused on uncovering the dock feeder canal along Churchill Way and transforming the adjacent area into an inviting public space, has already cost millions and was widely celebrated as a milestone in the city’s ongoing regeneration.
Hailed as a significant step towards reinvigorating Cardiff’s urban core, this first stage formed only one piece of a far grander vision: eventually, the plan is to restore the historic canal’s route all the way to Tyndall Street, accompanied by an array of new homes, offices, shops, and community areas. The wider Canal Quarter project has been pitched as a catalyst for economic growth, urban renewal, and environmental improvement in Wales’ capital city.
Despite these bold aims and the early success on Churchill Way, updates regarding subsequent phases have been noticeably absent. When contacted for comment about future plans, a Cardiff Council spokesperson acknowledged the current standstill, indicating that progress on extending the project rests upon securing additional funding. “The Canal Quarter Development is a private/public project due to the land ownership in this area of the city,” the spokesperson clarified. “The uncovering of future phases of the canal and possible future transport schemes will take place when successful funding becomes available.”
The Cardiff Capital Region (CCR), which has vigorously promoted the scheme and is tasked with attracting investment across South East Wales, was also approached for details on how efforts to secure further backing are progressing. So far, however, no concrete timeline or new financial commitments have been made public, leaving the project’s next steps uncertain.
Nevertheless, the achievements to date have not gone unrecognised. The collaboration between Cardiff Council, engineering experts Atkins Realis, and contractors Knights Brown was honoured with an award in 2024, celebrating the thoughtful and innovative design of the completed Churchill Way section. The city council has emphasised that further phases could help deliver “a new urban district,” potentially revitalising nearby streets such as Bridge Street, David Street, Charles Street, Tredegar Street, Guildford Crescent, and Barrack Lane.
For many, the canal’s restoration is about more than just bricks and mortar. The waterway itself has deep historical resonance in Cardiff. Dating back to the 1830s, the dock feeder canal once channelled water from the River Taff in Blackweir right down to the busy Docks, ensuring that Bute Dock could remain operational regardless of the tides. This feat allowed the Glamorganshire Canal, stretching from Merthyr Tydfil to the heart of Cardiff, to continuously transport steel and iron—industries that powered South Wales’ 19th-century prosperity.
The decline of the canal began in the mid-20th century, with much of its route hidden beneath concrete and new development between 1948 and 1950. For decades, Cardiff’s historic waters remained buried and largely forgotten, the dock feeder on Churchill Way covered by beams and tarmac.
Now, as the city attempts to recapture some of its lost waterways, many Cardiff residents and businesses are eager to see momentum return. There are high hopes that continuing the Canal Quarter visions could provide a unique public amenity, foster greater biodiversity, and spark new domestic and commercial investment.
Despite the lack of immediate decisions on the next stages, local authorities and their partners are under pressure to maintain public interest, secure necessary funding, and ensure that the larger ambitions for this stretch of Cardiff are eventually realised. While the first phase serves as a visible reminder of what is possible with determined investment and creative partnerships, much more remains to be done before the full potential of the Canal Quarter is unlocked.
Those invested in Cardiff’s future will now be watching closely to see how the city can turn early promise into sustained progress, and whether the story of its hidden canal can yet have a rejuvenating new chapter.