Cardiff Central Square. Reshaped. Reborn. The tale of a capital’s centre transformed.

Cardiff Central Square: A transformation years in the making 

It was 1954 when Cardiff opened its new bus depot in Central Square. Located next to the train station, it made a lot of sense from a logistics standpoint: Get on a train, hop on a bus, explore the city. As a gateway into the city, it was thought that Central Square would be the ideal hub for the city’s transport network. However, it was only going to serve as a transport hub, with nothing else to do or see for locals and tourists – except for a few small, scattered and outdated retail outlets. This left the square – the heart of Cardiff – feeling devoid of life, devoid of community, devoid of warm, welcoming values that are associated with the Welsh spirit.

Unappealing, unaccommodating and undoubtedly a blight on the city for locals, Cardiff Bus Station also painted a dejected picture of Cardiff to people stepping out of the train station. This wasn’t ideal, especially when considering that today, Central Railway Station is one of the UK’s major network stations, with over 10 million passengers passing through in the 2022-23 financial year.¹ Many of these are visitors to the city who travel through the square on their way to Principality Stadium – a stone’s throw from the train station and square. Principality Stadium hosts all manner of major events from both national and international rugby games to concerts, WWE-bonanzas and more. It’s even set to host games during Euro 2028. 

Fast-forward almost 60 years from the depot’s opening, it’s the 2010s, and local property developer Rightacres starts work on redeveloping Central Square. The vision? Transform it from an old ’50s bus depot to an accessible, appealing gateway into the capital – one that ‘captures the essence of Wales and Welsh values, as a place of warmth and welcome’.² Part of the vision was to develop a layout that connects the train station to the city in the best possible way. It needed to maximise people movement and provide great accessibility to the nearby Principality Stadium.

For locals, it was to be a place that encourages ‘a sense of familiarity and helps build a strong community’.³ This strong sense of place and community would help to promote a better picture of Cardiff, of Wales, and of the rich culture and heritage that makes the country so unique. ‘Central Square is the gateway into Cardiff’s social and cultural destinations, and is thus an inextricable part of its identity. Its past failure to serve as an inviting place demands a more nuanced, people-centred approach.’⁴ It needed to be a space where the public realm and buildings work together to define the space and the journey through it. 

Furthermore, Rightacres wanted to make Central Square the go-to destination for employers and attract new investment, including high-end users from the financial and professional services industry.⁵ 

All of this, Rightacres hoped, would amount to the square becoming a true mixed-use space: Being a gateway for major events, a home to major businesses and public sector organisations, a place to go for locals seeking recreational activities, and a transport hub.

Lights, camera, action for the BBC in Cardiff

When Jon James, managing director of ISG’s UK construction business, first heard of the project, he knew ISG could deliver, and he was determined to participate. For Jon, Cardiff and Central Square is home – living just 15 minutes away from the site. Jon would get his wish. ISG joined Rightacres to deliver the first phase of the vision: BBC Cymru Wales’ new HQ, with work commencing in late 2015. It was a project that brought a real ‘wow’ factor with a building designed by Foster + Partners that pushed architectural and technical boundaries.

Subsequent years would see ISG and Rightacres collaborate on the Two Central Square office development for law firm Hugh James, Cardiff University’s School of Journalism, Media and Culture (JOMEC), public realm and landscaping works around the square, Legal & General’s new ‘Calon’ office, a car park, 318 build-to-rent apartments, and the fit out of the city’s new HMRC building. Each project delivered an essential component to the masterplan created by Rightacres, with the developer seeking to create a place to invest, a place to work, a place to live, and a place people can get to.⁵

A Cardiffian workforce 

Rightacres, led by local-born Paul McCarthy, was keen for the delivery of the redevelopment to provide job opportunities for the local supply chain. Jason Hyett, project director at Rightacres, comments: “We’re a Cardiff-based company, so we looked to engage locally as much as possible.” The property development firm, alongside ISG, interacted with local suppliers and subcontractors early to amass a Cardiff-based team. The result? Look no further than the interchange project, where 60.3%* of the workforce was local for the base build, and 70.5%* for the fit out. It was a team from Cardiff, ready to reshape Cardiff.

Nick Furzeland, operations manager at ISG, states: “The development brought steady jobs to the area. There are people around the square who’ve been working here for seven to eight years.”

Central Square also opened doors for younger generations, welcoming them onto the project, and giving them a platform to experience a career in construction, and a career in Cardiff. That’s thanks to Jon James who, as Jason Hyett explains: “Has a passion for bringing young people into the business.” Jon worked hard to integrate youth schemes into Central Square’s redevelopment. One scheme saw local college students attend and contribute to the project. For these students, they will always have a sense of pride when setting foot in the square.

* This constitutes workforce based / living in Wales at the time of the development. 

Building a better Cardiff in more ways than one

It was never just a case of getting the job done. Social value manager, Harriet Wade, led ISG’s community engagement in the area, working closely with homelessness charity, The Wallich. The charity’s philosophy of “We believe everyone deserves the right to a home, but more than that, that everyone deserves the right to feel safe, to feel valued and to feel positive about their future” rings true in everything it does. ISG was first introduced to The Wallich by Jon James, who had previously supported the charity. From contributing to charity events, to helping ex-offenders combat barriers to work, Harriet and the team worked with The Wallich to support those in need within the community.  

One of The Wallich’s biggest challenges was its existing space – an office five minutes from Cardiff Central Square. The office hadn’t been updated for some time, and it didn’t enable the charity to fully conduct its mission. The space needed a makeover. Fortunately, Jon and Harriet were on hand to help. They evaluated the space and devised a plan. ISG fitted a reception, small office and a containment area – transforming The Wallich’s office – alongside a small, quiet meeting room, and shower and toilet facilities for drop-ins.

Final stop: The Interchange

In 2024, putting an end to 10 years of development, Rightacres and ISG opened Cardiff Bus Interchange. A final piece in the puzzle for Cardiff Central Square, the brand-new interchange isn’t just a bus station. Featuring space for retailors, residents, office staff and entertainment institutions, it’s a hub that ensures Cardiff remains full of life even during the weekends. 

Looking back at the achievement, ISG’s Kevin McElroy, operations director on the project, remarks: “When the national rugby team plays, I take a train into Cardiff centre to watch the game. Like so many who have played their part in delivering Central Square, I have an enormous sense of pride when I walk through the transformed area. This comes from two main areas: One being the teamwork, with so many of the team being there from the first phase to the last, finding leaner and smarter ways of delivering at each stage, while engaging with so many in the local area. Two being the finished product that delivers on the vision of our client, creating a gateway that inspires and excites so many visiting our great capital.”

Today, Central Square is truly a destination for investment, and a place for people to work, live and go for recreational activities. More than that, it is a fitting gateway into the capital, reflecting Cardiff’s identity for those stepping foot in the city for the first time. With so much going on, there’s never a dull day in Central Square.

Published on the 8th of August 2024.