Cardiff's 900-Space Park and Ride Site Proposed for Major Data Centre Redevelopment
February 5, 2026
A major urban redevelopment proposal in Cardiff underscores the intense demand for digital infrastructure to power the UK's growing cloud computing and artificial intelligence sectors. A hybrid planning application has been submitted to Cardiff Council that could see a 57-acre park and ride facility transformed into a critical data centre hub. The proposal, submitted by client Curtis Hall, seeks permission for the demolition of existing structures at the Cardiff East Park and Ride site in Llanrumney and its redevelopment into a data centre facility. The site, which currently features a 12-acre hard-surfaced area with approximately 900 car parking spaces, bus facilities, and an office building, would be repurposed to include the data centre, an associated energy centre, and a substation. The plans also encompass new access routes, parking, drainage, landscaping, and the construction of a pedestrian bridge across the adjacent Rhymney River.
According to a design and access statement filed with the application, the scheme has been shaped by extensive pre-application consultation with the council and key stakeholders. The document frames the project as a "significant opportunity for Cardiff to host critical digital infrastructure," which it describes as essential national infrastructure supporting cloud services, AI, and secure data storage. The statement notes the development would provide "critical national digital and economic infrastructure and related employment," while also delivering public and environmental benefits, including the new river crossing.
The project team includes planning consultant Iceni Projects, architects Henry Mein Partnership Ltd, landscape architect BCA Design, with Pinnacle Consulting Engineers and WSP serving as structural and civil engineers. If approved, the conversion of this large-scale transportation site would mark a significant investment in Wales's digital economy, aligning with broader national objectives to expand data centre capacity amid soaring demand.
Source: insidermedia
