:Cardiff Bay Development Corporation

The corporation was established as part of an initiative by the future Deputy Prime Minister, Michael Heseltine, in April 1987, during the Second Thatcher ministry.{{cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1987/Uksi_19870646_en_1.htm |title=The Cardiff Bay Development Corporation (Area and Constitution) Order 1987 |date=1987 |work=Legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives}}

The Secretary of State for Wales, Nicholas Edwards set out the CBDC's mission statement as:

To put Cardiff on the international map as a superlative maritime city which will stand comparison with any such city in the world, thereby enhancing the image and economic well-being of Cardiff and Wales as a whole.{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmselect/cmwelaf/258/8102611.htm|title=Select Committee on Welsh Affairs Minutes of Evidence - Memorandum by the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation |date=September 1988|access-date=9 March 2016|author=Michael Boyce}}

The five main aims and objectives were:{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-40681940|title=Cardiff Bay: What has 30 years of development achieved?|publisher=BBC|date=13 August 2017|access-date=18 February 2018}}

• To promote development and provide a superb environment in which people will want to live, work and play.
• To re-unite the City of Cardiff with its waterfront.
• To bring forward a mix of development which would create a wide range of job opportunities and would reflect the hopes and aspirations of the communities of the area.
• To achieve the highest standard of design and quality in all types of development and investment.
• To establish the area as a recognized centre of excellence and innovation in the field of urban regeneration.

Its flagship developments included the Cardiff Bay Barrage,{{cite web|url=https://oro.open.ac.uk/92601/1/JENKINS_A329_RVOR.pdf|title=The Cardiff Bay Development Corporation (1987-2000). Regeneration – success or failure?|page=9|first=John|last=Jenkins|date=19 May 2023|publisher=Open University|access-date=16 February 2025}} the Cardiff Bay Retail Park,{{Citation|first1=A. |last1=Phillips |first2=H. E. |last2=Cherrill |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WaU0igJ5a0wC&pg=PA538 |journal=Geoenvironmental Engineering - Contaminated Ground: Fate of Pollutants and Remediation |publisher=Thomas Telford Publishing |title=The reactivation and remediation of the landfill site at Ferry Road, Cardiff |pages=538–539 |year=1997 |isbn=0-7277-2606-4 }} and the Roald Dahl Plass development.{{cite web|url=https://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/roald-dahl-plass-cardiff/|title=Roald Dahl Plass|publisher=Academy of Urbanism|access-date=16 February 2025}} During the CBDC's lifetime {{convert|14000000|sqft}} of non-housing development and 5,780 housing units were built. Around 31,000 new jobs were created and some £1.8 billion of private finance was invested. About {{convert|200|acre|ha}} of derelict land was reclaimed.{{cite web|url=http://www.wao.gov.uk/assets/englishdocuments/Securing_the_future_of_Cardiff_Bay_agw_2001.pdf |title=Securing the Future of Cardiff Bay |author=Auditor General for Wales |date=19 June 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928185514/http://www.wao.gov.uk/assets/englishdocuments/Securing_the_future_of_Cardiff_Bay_agw_2001.pdf |archive-date=2007-09-28 }}

The Chairman was Sir Geoffrey Inkin.{{cite web |url=http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm41/4157/wo02.htm |title=Cardiff Bay Development Corporation |date=18 December 1998 |work=The Official Documents Website |publisher=The Stationery Office}} The first Chief Executive was Barry Lane,{{cite web |url=http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/news/408513/UK-taming-Tiger-Bay-1-2/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH |title=UK: The taming of Tiger Bay. (1 of 2) |last=Darwent |first=Charles |date=1 April 1991 |work=Management Today }} who was later succeeded by Michael Boyce.

The corporation was dissolved on 31 March 2000. The Cardiff Harbour Authority took over the corporation's management of the barrage, the Inland Bay and the Rivers Taff and Ely on 1 April 2000.{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1999/mar/31/cardiff-bay-development-corporation|title=Cardiff Bay Development Corporation|publisher=Hansard|date=31 March 1999|access-date=16 January 2025}}

An evaluation of the regeneration of Cardiff Bay published in 2004 concluded that the project had "reinforced the competitive position of Cardiff" and "contributed to a massive improvement in the quality of the built environment". However, the regeneration project had been less successful in generating employment. The evaluation concluded that "the overall outcome, while representing a major achievement and massive step forward, falls short of the original vision."{{cite book |author=Esys Consulting Ltd |title=Evaluation of Regeneration in Cardiff Bay. A report for the Welsh Assembly Government |date=December 2004 }}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |title=Continuing the Regeneration of Cardiff Bay |date=May 2002 |location=Cardiff |publisher=Wales Audit Office |url=http://www.wao.gov.uk/2002.asp |access-date=2011-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330103142/http://www.wao.gov.uk/2002.asp# |archive-date=2012-03-30 |url-status=dead }}

• [http://www.cardiffharbour.com/ Cardiff Harbour Authority]

{{Economy and Industry of Cardiff}}

Category:Economy of Cardiff

Category:History of Cardiff

Category:Organizations established in 1987

Category:Organizations disestablished in 2000

Category:Organisations based in Cardiff

Category:Defunct public bodies of the United Kingdom

Category:Redevelopment projects in Cardiff

Category:Development Corporations of the United Kingdom

Category:1987 establishments in Wales

Category:2000 disestablishments in Wales