Redevelopment of the port of Cardiff

Abstract

During the early part of the 20th century, port activity was characterised by large but wildly fluctuating volumes of cargo. This was due partly to the varying demand for coal, partly to the ad hoc arrivals and departures of ships and partly to a labour relations regime which was anything but stable. The 1940s, 1950s and 1960s saw a steady decline in Cardiff's fortunes especially in terms of export traffic. In 1950, imports outstripped exports for the first time in the port's history. The 1970s saw a short term boom, especially in imports, partly in association with the UK's new membership with the EEC. Fifty years of shrinkage was finally arrested during the 1980s when the port, in common with many others in a similar position, experienced a slight rise in traffic up to the present level of about 2 million cargo tonnes per annum. At this time, the framework within which Cardiff was to be regenerated was finalised. In common with a number of other UK towns and cities (Swansea, Southampton, London, Liverpool, Hull), much of the port land was to be converted to non-port-related uses within fairly flexible guidelines set by the newly established Cardiff Bay Development Corporation. As a consequence, much of the former port area has been undergoing major and dramatic reshaping with the coordinated construction of housing, a marina, administrative buildings, hotels, museums, a new road network and probably a barrage. In relation to the size of the city of Cardiff (pop. 260 000), the scale of refurbishment of the old dock estate is probably unprecedented in the UK. When completed, the scheme will have significantly enhanced the city as a whole as a high quality environment in which to live, and will have converted what was largely a wasteland into a major and modern employment area. The commercial port of Cardiff, meanwhile, although much smaller than it was in the early 20th century, has now found a niche as an important local centre for general cargo operations.