A major mixed-use scheme in Cardiff has been boosted with the appointment of a main contractor.

Local developer Rightacres has named ISG to take forward a key project in its flagship Central Square scheme.

This £89 million construction project to deliver the Cardiff Transport Interchange building will see ISG and Rightacres work together again, following success delivering the new Foster + Partners designed BBC Cymru Wales headquarter building and Nr Two Central Square, home to Hugh James and Cardiff University's School of Journalism, and significant public realm improvements.

Designed by Cardiff-based Holder Mathias Architects, the mixed-use scheme is one of the largest developments undertaken in the city centre, delivering circa 500,000 sq ft of new space, which includes the 14-bay bus interchange with a covered concourse, 318 apartments for the Private Rented Sector and circa 90,000 sq ft of modern open-plan, quality CAT A office space.


It embraces the construction drive toward efficient practices and modern methods of construction, utilising off-site manufactured bathroom pods and a slip form system to accelerate the construction of the concrete cores of the new building. ISG will use an enclosed four-storey platform on a jacking system to sequentially form the reinforced concrete frame and immediately weather proof each floor as the platform rises up the tower.

Kevin McElroy, ISG project director, commented: "The Cardiff Interchange has been one of the most highly anticipated developments of recent years and this announcement reflects real collaboration and vision from all project stakeholders to create a mixed-use scheme that delivers for our city. Not only will this dramatically improve connectivity for businesses, residents and visitors to Cardiff, but alongside the iconic BBC Wales headquarters, will transform this strategic gateway site."

Stephen Hill, Holder Mathias partner, added: "The interchange is an extremely complex, challenging and multi-layered project that, once complete, will provide a modern, innovative and truly mixed-use set of environments. Not only will it deliver Cardiff's new bus and coach station, but it will provide a landmark residential offer in a key city centre location and dynamic new office accommodation. We are delighted to have the opportunity to implement our designs in partnership with Rightacres and ISG in a scheme that fuses so many vital elements of the city together and is the final piece of the Central Square regeneration development."

This latest contract win also marks ISG's single largest UK construction project of 2019 and takes the contractor's tally of work awarded at Central Square past £200 million.

(CM/JG)