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A canal which once ran through the middle of Cardiff would be brought back to life under new plans revealed for the city.

A proposed 'Canal Quarter' scheme in the capital would form part of a larger project which would also see much loved threatened buildings in the city's Guildford Crescent saved.

If approved the old canal buried under Churchill Way will be reinstated.

A large public square fronting Admiral's headquarters would also be created.

The former restaurants and music venue Gwdihw in Guildford Crescent, which were all set to be demolished earlier this year, will now be retained as the wider masterplan for regeneration in the area is drawn up.

In 1947 work began to build a new road over the Churchill Way canal

(Image: Media Wales Ltd)

Marcol Estate, owners of Guildford Crescent, has now agreed with Cardiff council that the curved frontages of the original late 19th century structures will be kept.

Plans are being developed to explore how best to preserve the historic character of Guildford Crescent through a development which would kick-start regeneration of the wider area.

Those proposals include turning the area of the city into a “Canal Quarter”.

Churchill Way today

(Image: WalesOnline)

Cllr Russell Goodway, cabinet member for investment and development, said: “I am extremely grateful for the positive manner in which the Marcol Estate responded to the council’s request to work together to protect the historic elements of the existing buildings and preserve the character of the crescent as part of the new development.

"It will make a significant contribution to the council’s ambition to regenerate this tired part of the city centre and will ensure that the character of the city’s past is both protected and preserved whilst contributing to an important

new development, which will help secure the future of the centre of our nation’s capital.

“All major developments in Cardiff over the past 25 years have been secured through public-private partnership and I am pleased that once again the private sector has engaged proactively to help deliver this exciting new vision.”

Cardiff's lost canals

(Image: Western Mail Archive)

The proposals for Guildford Crescent, which involve a major residential element along with commercial opportunities at ground floor level, are likely to be submitted to the planning authority later this year.

Cardiff council has worked with local landowners to bring forward new ideas and proposals for their individual parcels of land.

A wider masterplan of investment will cover an area of the city centre from Queen Street Station to St David’s Shopping Centre and encompassing Churchill Way, Charles Street, Bridge Street, Guildford Crescent and the site of the existing Motorpoint Arena.

It will be revealed once the council’s cabinet has decided the preferred approach to deliver a the new Indoor Arena in Cardiff Bay.

The new arena should release the site of the existing Motorpoint arena for redevelopment opening up a large area of the city centre to new ideas and schemes.

Council leader Huw Thomas said, “This is good news. We know what the Crescent means to the people of Cardiff and now it will be protected and preserved for future generations. The new Canal Quarter masterplan provides an exciting framework for investment in an area of city centre that will be next to benefit from large-scale regeneration.

"Increasingly developers are seeking to invest where there is good access to public transport and this area of the city centre on the doorstep of Queen Street Station is as good as it gets. I am delighted that we will now receive new plans for Guildford Crescent, leading to the potential for an even bigger reminder of the past by opening up the canal.”

Derek Rapport, chairman of The Marcol Estate, said, “Our emerging plans for the site are very exciting. Top class architects have been appointed to produce a scheme which embraces the council’s vision for a canal quarter that brings water back into the public realm in Churchill Way.”