Callaghan Square
{{Short description|Public square in Cardiff, Wales}}
File:Callaghan Square Cardiff.jpg
Callaghan Square ({{langx|cy|Sgwâr Callaghan}}) is a large public plaza in Cardiff, Wales, previously known as Bute Square. It was developed as part of a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme to link central Cardiff with Cardiff Bay.
History
File:Statue of John, Marquis of Bute, Knight of the Thistle, in Callaghan Square, Cardiff.jpg in Callaghan Square]]
Cardiff Bay was developed in the 1990s. A new public square and new link road, Lloyd George Avenue, were conceived by the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation (CBDC), using a PFI scheme that will cost taxpayers £189 million over 25 years.Abby Alford [http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/09/07/treasury-reveals-cardiff-s-lloyd-george-avenue-set-to-cost-taxpayers-up-to-189m-91466-29375898/ Treasury reveals Cardiff's Lloyd George Avenue set to cost taxpayers up to £189m], Western Mail, 7 September 2011. Retrieved 2012-04-05. There was a commitment to provide at least 356,000 sq ft of commercial office space. Initial stages were completed by October 2000 (when Lloyd George Avenue was officially opened).[http://www.partnershipsuk.org.uk/PUK-Case-Study.aspx?Region=Wales&Project=11682 Case Study: Lloyd George Avenue and Callaghan Square] {{Webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120803081627/http%3A//www.partnershipsuk.org.uk/PUK%2DCase%2DStudy.aspx?Region%3DWales%26Project%3D11682 |date=2012-08-03 }}, Partnerships UK. Retrieved 2012-04-05. When CBDC was wound up in 2000 the project became the responsibility of the Welsh Development Agency.
Initially named Bute Square, in 1998 the development had been considered as a location for the new home of the Senedd. It was rejected because of the risks associated with a complex PFI scheme. There were also concerns the site would be too small and dominated by traffic.Auditor General for Wales, [http://www.wao.gov.uk/assets/englishdocuments/Accomodation_Arrangements_For_The_National_Assembly_agw_2000.pdf "Accommodation Arrangements for the National Assembly for Wales"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015133637/http://www.wao.gov.uk/assets/englishdocuments/Accomodation_Arrangements_For_The_National_Assembly_agw_2000.pdf |date=2006-10-15 }}, Wales Audit Office, 2 November 2000, pp. 20-21. Retrieved 2012-04-05. In March 2000, there was a three-month suspension and review of the project, in which Bute Square was one of three alternative locations considered;Auditor General for Wales, [http://www.wao.gov.uk/assets/englishdocuments/Accomodation_Arrangements_For_The_National_Assembly_agw_2000.pdf "Accommodation Arrangements for the National Assembly for Wales"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015133637/http://www.wao.gov.uk/assets/englishdocuments/Accomodation_Arrangements_For_The_National_Assembly_agw_2000.pdf |date=2006-10-15 }}, Wales Audit Office, 2 November 2000, p. 5. Retrieved 2012-04-05. the preferred location continued to be in Cardiff Bay next to the Pierhead Building, which became the Senedd building.
A statue of the John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute was relocated to Bute Square in 2000. The statue was originally created in 1853 and stood in front of the old town hall.[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/expats/expats-newsletter/page.cfm?objectid=15864263&method=full&siteid=50082 100 facts you (probably) didn't know about Cardiff (no. 65)], Walesonline (Expats Newsletter), 17 June 2002. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
A new commercial office scheme was also developed on the square by property company MEPC. The first phase, a 145,000 sq ft office building completed by 2002, was named No 1 Bute Square.Sion Barry [http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2002/08/02/tory-am-claims-name-change-could-hamper-development-91466-12084026/ Tory AM claims name change could hamper development], Western Mail, 2 August 2002. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
On 1 June 2002 Bute Square was renamed Callaghan Square in honour of former UK Prime Minister (and Cardiff South and Penarth MP) Lord Callaghan.[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/expats/expats-newsletter/page.cfm?objectid=11959191&method=full&siteid=50082 Bute Square renamed after Callaghan], Walesonline (Expats Newsletter), undated. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
Future developments
In January 2011 it was announced that Callaghan Square could become the site for a new convention centre. In March 2011 a report revealed plans to re-route the roads and junctions surrounding the square, possibly replacing the Herbert Street railway bridge, removing the road to the north of the square and adding a dedicated bus lane. The work was expected to start within 12–18 months.
References
{{reflist|refs=
}}
{{coord|51.4753|-3.1740|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}