Cardiff International Sports Village

Cardiff International Sports Village

Taylor Woodrow Construction undertook the project with Cardiff County Council as the Client. The contract was an ICE Design & Construct.

Taylor Woodrow co-ordinated the detailed design for the remediation, which was undertaken by Churngold Remediation and Arup. Keller Ground Engineering designed the ground improvement works and the gas & leachate barrier and Tony Gee & Partners designed the revetment system.

The site is located on a man-made peninsular within the fresh-water lake formed by the construction of the Cardiff Bay Barrage. Construction of the barrage began in 1994 and freshwater impoundment commenced in 2001. Cardiff Bay represents an area of major regeneration in Cardiff, and is protected by the Cardiff Bay Barrage Act, which sets standards for water quality.

The site had a history of industrial and commercial land use including the presence of both licensed and unlicensed landfill tips. Coal discharging operations and large-scale storage of diesel fuels had resulted in contamination of the site by heavy metals and hydrocarbons.

The main works undertaken on the site included:

Exsitu bioremediation of 28,000m3 of hydrocarbon contaminated soil
Insitu bioremediation of 17,000m3 soil & groundwater
Removal of hydrocarbon free product from groundwater
Major earthworks to relocate 300,000m3 of treated soils in line with end uses
Treatment and validation of 14,000m3 of Japanese Knotweed infested soils
Installation of a bentonite cut off wall with gas membrane and leachate drainage system to the perimeter of the landfill tip
Dynamic & vibro-compaction of 95,000m2 of disused landfill tip
Installation of a passive gas venting system to the landfill tip
Installation of 1600m of sheet pile revetment including anchor system at the water’s edge
Improvement of soft alluvium by use of band drains and surcharging
Breaking out of hardstandings and the crushing, screening and reuse of arisings on site
Use of 50,000m3 of recycled aggregate

Works on site began in September 2003, and the project value was approximately £15 million.

The technologies used on site included cutting edge insitu bioremediation techniques utilizing electrolysis to treat ground water contamination. The project was one of the largest bioremediation operations undertaken in the UK and all hydrocarbon-contaminated soils were reused on site.

Once complete it will offer

A 50 metre swimming and leisure pool
an indoor skiing, snow boarding and ice sports centre
rock climbing and all-action based sports
Olympic standard canoeing and white water rafting course
facilities for judo, wrestling, boxing and fencing
facilities for gymnastics
shops, bars, restaurants, homes and offices
regional casino, hotel and conference facilities

The benefits are many. It will

attract 3.5 million visitors spending £270 million
provide 5,000 new jobs
transform a former brown field industrial site into an international destination
improve the local environment and facilities for all
invest in local skills at all levels
provide new highways / infrastructure to the city centre
act as a catalyst for a wide range of additional regeneration projects
ISV is due for completion in 2010, ready for the build up to London 2012. It will provide valuable training facilities for both British and visiting athletes. Then Cardiff and Wales can play their crucial parts in supporting the London Olympics.

click here for a aerial view