A NEW GATEWAY TO THE CAPITAL OF WALES
Cardiff’s city centre has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last decade. High quality retail development and strong urban design have helped create a distinctive and contemporary city centre which is evident in the increasing numbers of visitors coming to Cardiff.
Our Vision for Central Square is that it becomes a proud new Gateway to the Capital of Wales. A revamped Central Square will reflect Cardiff’s ambition to be amongst Europe’s most successful cities. It will build on its success and become a place defined by excellence in design, in quality, in diversity of offer. It will be a place that inspires and excites. Above all it will be a unique place – a place that captures the essence of Wales and Welsh values, as a place of warmth and welcome.
-
ONE CENTRAL SQUAREConstructed and occupied the office building totals 135,000 sq ft over 9 floors, with floor-plates of about 16,500 sq ft and basement car parking. The building has achieved a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’. All floors are now let and occupied.READ MORE2016
-
TWO CENTRAL SQUARETwo Central Square is under construction and will comprise an office building of approximately 148,000 sq ft with basement car parking. The whole building has been pre-let to Hugh James Solicitors and Cardiff University’s School of Journalism. It will be ready for occupation in September 2018.Watch Progress2018
-
THREE CENTRAL SQUAREThree Central Square is the site for the new headquarters of BBC Cymru Wales, a Foster & Partners designed building over 5 storeys totalling 180,000 sq ft which will be handed over to the BBC for fitting out in May 2018 and will be fully occupied and operational in 2019.2019
-
THE INTERCHANGEThe Interchange will be constructed on the sites previously occupied by Marland House, and the multi-storey car park which have now been demolished. It is planned to contain the replacement bus station for Central Square and form part of a new, state of the art transport hub which will eventually integrate public transport facilities within Cardiff city centre in conjunction with plans for improvements to Central Train Station. It will include retail shops on the ground floor and commercial and residential accommodation above2020
-
FIVE CENTRAL SQUAREPreviously occupied by the Western Mail print-works on the north side of Wood Street a new office building totalling 270,000 sq ft will be constructed, subject to planning consent, which will be completed by the end of 2019. The existing St David’s House will be demolished as part of this scheme.2020
-
SIX CENTRAL SQUARECurrently part of St David’s House, this site will be redeveloped as a separate office building in due course of up to 150,000 sq ft completing the Central Square scheme.2020
-
ONE CENTRAL SQUAREConstructed and occupied the office building totals 135,000 sq ft over 9 floors, with floor-plates of about 16,500 sq ft and basement car parking. The building has achieved a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’. All floors are now let and occupied.READ MORE2016
-
TWO CENTRAL SQUARETwo Central Square is under construction and will comprise an office building of approximately 148,000 sq ft with basement car parking. The whole building has been pre-let to Hugh James Solicitors and Cardiff University’s School of Journalism. It will be ready for occupation in September 2018.Watch Progress2018
-
THREE CENTRAL SQUAREThree Central Square is the site for the new headquarters of BBC Cymru Wales, a Foster & Partners designed building over 5 storeys totalling 180,000 sq ft which will be handed over to the BBC for fitting out in May 2018 and will be fully occupied and operational in 2019.2019
-
THE INTERCHANGEThe Interchange will be constructed on the sites previously occupied by Marland House, and the multi-storey car park which have now been demolished. It is planned to contain the replacement bus station for Central Square and form part of a new, state of the art transport hub which will eventually integrate public transport facilities within Cardiff city centre in conjunction with plans for improvements to Central Train Station. It will include retail shops on the ground floor and commercial and residential accommodation above2020
-
FIVE CENTRAL SQUAREPreviously occupied by the Western Mail print-works on the north side of Wood Street a new office building totalling 270,000 sq ft will be constructed, subject to planning consent, which will be completed by the end of 2019. The existing St David’s House will be demolished as part of this scheme.2020
-
SIX CENTRAL SQUARECurrently part of St David’s House, this site will be redeveloped as a separate office building in due course of up to 150,000 sq ft completing the Central Square scheme.2020
MASTERPLAN PRIORITIES
The approach is to consider the context of the urban blocks of the existing City and recreate this in a new way with a strategy of new civic space, and the creation of a new City Quarter.
The redevelopment of Central Square requires the relocation of both buses, taxis and cycle routes from their current locations at the front of Central Station.
A new bus station on the site of Marland House and Transport Hub in conjunction with Network Rail’s Central Station expansion.
Key to the success of the redevelopment of Central Square is the comfort, safety, ease of movement, and experience of visitors to the area.
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) will be used as a design audit to deliver the sustainability strategy.
One of the key aims of the proposals for the public realm masterplan is to create balanced, well defined and pleasant public spaces.

MASTERPLAN LAYOUT
TIMELINE
-
September 2013Masterplan Agreement for Central Square
-
October 2013BBC to relocate from Llandaff announced
-
January 2014BBC announce Central Square location
-
August 2014One Central Square commenced
-
December 2014Foster + Partners to design the Interchange
-
September 2015L&G to fund BBC HQ
-
March 2016One Central Square completed and fully let
-
March 2017Planning approval for the Interchange
-
April 2017Two Central Square fully pre-let
-
July 2017Planning application for Five Central Square
-
October 2013BBC to relocate from Llandaff announced
-
January 2014BBC announce Central Square location
-
August 2014One Central Square commenced
-
December 2014Foster + Partners to design the Interchange
-
September 2015L&G to fund BBC HQ
-
March 2016One Central Square completed and fully let
-
March 2017Planning approval for the Interchange
-
April 2017Two Central Square fully pre-let
-
July 2017Planning application for Five Central Square
-
September 2013Masterplan Agreement for Central Square
-
January 2014BBC announce Central Square location
-
August 2014One Central Square commenced
-
December 2014Foster + Partners to design the Interchange
-
September 2015L&G to fund BBC HQ
-
March 2016One Central Square completed and fully let
-
March 2017Planning approval for the Interchange
-
April 2017Two Central Square fully pre-let
-
July 2017Planning application for Five Central Square
-
September 2013Masterplan Agreement for Central Square
-
October 2013BBC to relocate from Llandaff announced
-
August 2014One Central Square commenced
-
December 2014Foster + Partners to design the Interchange
-
September 2015L&G to fund BBC HQ
-
March 2016One Central Square completed and fully let
-
March 2017Planning approval for the Interchange
-
April 2017Two Central Square fully pre-let
-
July 2017Planning application for Five Central Square
-
September 2013Masterplan Agreement for Central Square
-
October 2013BBC to relocate from Llandaff announced
-
January 2014BBC announce Central Square location
TIMELINE
-
September 2013Masterplan Agreement for Central Square
-
October 2013BBC to relocate from Llandaff announced
-
January 2014BBC announce Central Square location
-
August 2014One Central Square commenced
-
December 2014Foster + Partners to design the Interchange
-
September 2015L&G to fund BBC HQ
-
March 2016One Central Square completed and fully let
-
March 2017Planning approval for the Interchange
-
April 2017Two Central Square fully pre-let
-
July 2017Planning application for Five Central Square
-
October 2013BBC to relocate from Llandaff announced
-
January 2014BBC announce Central Square location
-
August 2014One Central Square commenced
-
December 2014Foster + Partners to design the Interchange
-
September 2015L&G to fund BBC HQ
-
March 2016One Central Square completed and fully let
-
March 2017Planning approval for the Interchange
-
April 2017Two Central Square fully pre-let
-
July 2017Planning application for Five Central Square
-
September 2013Masterplan Agreement for Central Square
-
January 2014BBC announce Central Square location
-
August 2014One Central Square commenced
-
December 2014Foster + Partners to design the Interchange
-
September 2015L&G to fund BBC HQ
-
March 2016One Central Square completed and fully let
-
March 2017Planning approval for the Interchange
-
April 2017Two Central Square fully pre-let
-
July 2017Planning application for Five Central Square
-
September 2013Masterplan Agreement for Central Square
-
October 2013BBC to relocate from Llandaff announced
TIMELINE
-
September 2013Masterplan Agreement for Central Square
-
October 2013BBC to relocate from Llandaff announced
-
January 2014BBC announce Central Square location
-
August 2014One Central Square commenced
-
December 2014Foster + Partners to design the Interchange
-
September 2015L&G to fund BBC HQ
-
March 2016One Central Square completed and fully let
-
March 2017Planning approval for the Interchange
-
April 2017Two Central Square fully pre-let
-
July 2017Planning application for Five Central Square
GALLERY





