Cardiff Canal Quarter: Reconnecting city, water and community

Markets

Buildings & places
Location

Cardiff, Wales
Client

Cardiff Council
Completion date

2024

Cardiff’s Canal Quarter Phase 1 marks a transformative urban regeneration initiative, centred around the uncovering and revitalisation of the historic Dock Feeder Canal. Completed in May 2024, the project reimagines part of the city centre into a vibrant, sustainable public space that reconnects Cardiff with its industrial heritage while addressing modern environmental and social needs.

Designing with purpose and partnership

AtkinsRéalis led the design of the Canal Quarter regeneration, bringing together a multidisciplinary team across landscape architecture, civil and drainage engineering, lighting, structural and M&E engineering, and project management.

From concept to completion, the team worked closely with Cardiff Council. The collaborative approach ensured the design met both technical and community needs, with digital tools like 3D modelling playing a crucial role in visualising and refining the vision—especially during pandemic-era remote working.

Design challenges

Delivering the project in a dense city centre environment presented a range of complex challenges:

Urban Constraints: The site was surrounded by active retail units, heritage buildings, and essential infrastructure. Construction had to be phased and carefully managed to maintain access and minimise disruption.
Utilities and Access: Extensive underground utilities restricted design flexibility, leading to an asymmetrical layout with terracing only on the western side.
Safety and Water Management: The canal’s depth and connectivity to culverts posed safety risks. Full balustrading was required to prevent accidents, while still allowing ecological connectivity for fish and otters.
Heritage Sensitivity: The project had to respect Cardiff’s industrial legacy, integrating existing trees and structures into the new design.
Unknowns in Construction: Historical culvert plans from the 1940s and radar surveys lacked precision, requiring real-time design adjustments during construction.

Sustainability

Sustainability was a core driver, shaped by both legislation and climate resilience goals:

SuDS Integration: Rain gardens and permeable paving were used to manage surface water, diverting it from the sewer system into the canal. This reduces flood risk and energy use in water treatment.
Climate Resilience: Planting schemes were selected for drought tolerance and heavy rainfall, helping mitigate urban overheating and supporting biodiversity.
Floating Wetlands: Installed to soften the canal’s concrete edges and enhance ecological value.
Reuse of Materials: Culvert slabs were repurposed for agricultural buildings, reducing waste and embodied carbon.
Well-being of Future Generations Act: The project aligns with Welsh legislation promoting long-term environmental and social benefits.

A canal reborn - nature, people and place

The unveiled canal now forms the heart of a vibrant public space, integrating sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) that manage surface water and reduce pressure on the combined sewer network. Rain gardens filter and redirect runoff into the canal, preventing 3,900 cubic metres of water annually from entering the sewer system—contributing to urban cooling, biodiversity, and flood resilience.

The transformation has already sparked economic renewal. New businesses have opened, and investment in the Capital Shopping Centre has been confirmed, with plans to turn it into a major entertainment hub. Footfall has increased, and the area is becoming a destination in its own right.

The project also won the Institute of Civil Engineers Wales Bill Ward Sustainability Award, recognising its innovative use of recycled materials and ecological enhancements, including wetland habitats that now support fish, birds, and pollinators.

A regeneration strategy in motion

This is just phase one of a broader masterplan. Future phases aim to extend the canal southward and redevelop adjacent land, including the current arena site once the new venue opens in Cardiff Bay (expected 2028). The project aligns with wider city initiatives like the Cardiff Crossrail and integrated tram network, helping bridge the gap between the city centre and the Bay.

Ultimately, the Canal Quarter is more than a regeneration scheme - it’s a blueprint for sustainable urban transformation, reconnecting Cardiff with its waterways, its history, and its people.