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Construction of a 3,000-seat ice arena at Cardiff Bay’s International Sports Village (ISV) is to start in August after the £16m scheme was given the go-ahead.

Developer Greenbank Partnership Ltd hope the metal-clad Ice Arena of Wales, which will house two ice pads, will open late next year.

The larger ice pad, which measures 60-metres by 30-metres, will stage Cardiff Devils matches, as well as other sports events, such as masters tennis, and concerts.

When not staging events, the main rink will be open to the public for skating, as will the smaller 54-metres by 27-metres ice pad.

The two-storey venue – which will feature a Cardiff Devils shop, cafes and viewing galleries – will employ 90 staff, including workers at the temporary rink it replaces.

All but one member of Cardiff council’s Planning Committee, Riverside’s Labour councillor Iona Gordon, voted to approve the development at City Hall.

Jonathan Smith, of Greenbank Partnership, said it would take a “significant time” to recoup the £16m cost, but the commercial elements in later phases, including 11,000sqm of shops, would help.

“We’re determined it will make a difference to winter sports in Cardiff by getting more young people involved, not just in ice hockey, but in sports such as curling and speed skating,” he said.

It comes almost two years after plans for a single rink arena by Planet Ice collapsed and eight years after the Wales National Ice Rink closed to make way for John Lewis.

Mark Phillips, of the Save Our Rink Action Committee (SORAC), said: “I’m just glad it’s over with and all finally going ahead. It’s going to mean a bright future for skating in Cardiff.”

Yesterday’s decision also granted outline planning permission for later phases in the £250m ISV scheme. This includes a 250-metre real-snow indoor ski slope, which will built on top of a 1,300-space multi-storey car park and 115-bedroom budget hotel.

A 400ft-tall, 32-storey landmark tower containing an art gallery, 60-bed luxury hotel, 62 flats and roof top viewing gallery and “winter garden” is also planned.

Councillor Michael Michael, chairman of the Planning Committee, said: “It’s iconic and will enhance the city.”

The shops, restaurants and bars can only be built after the ski slope and car park is completed. The later phases will be subject to further permission, which must be sought within three years.

Lancashire-based Greenbank Partnerships is also behind the Cardiff Pointe residential development, which will rise up on land neighbouring the winter sports complex.

Construction of the first 100 units starts late next month after a legal agreement was recently signed with the council.

Almost 800 homes are planned, including 18 waterside “executive” houses and two landmark towers, standing 23 and 27 storeys high, that will “cantilever” over the water.