Key Points
- The Finnish company Nordic Urban has opened a public consultation on plans for an estimated £17 million project involving outdoor bathing and sauna at the Victorian Mount Stuart Graving Docks in Cardiff Bay.
- The development is called Allas Pool Cardiff and involves a 25-metre heated outdoor pool, hot and cold baths, four saunas, changing rooms, a restaurant, a café and terraces outside.
- The project takes advantage of Grade II listed Victorian dry docks that have been lying idle for decades, retaining their original buildings but opening them to public use.
- The company has obtained a conditional agreement from the council for a long-term lease of the site provided planning permission for the project can be granted successfully.
- OOPEAA, Gross.Max, and Space & Place are the architects and designers involved in the project.
- According to Tim Burke in Estates Gazette, Nordic Urban plans to make a formal application for planning permission at Cardiff Council after the completion of the consultation period.
Cardiff, Wales (Cardiff Daily) 15 September 2026 — A Finnish developer has officially launched a public consultation regarding ambitious proposals to transform a section of the Victorian dry docks in Cardiff Bay into a major outdoor bathing and sauna destination, marking a significant step toward the regeneration of the disused historic site.
What is the scope of the £17m Allas Pool Cardiff project?
The proposed venture, titled the Allas Pool Cardiff project, involves a substantial £17m investment led by the Finnish developer Nordic Urban. As detailed by Tim Burke of Estates Gazette, the development aims to repurpose the Grade II listed Mount Stuart Graving Docks, which have stood empty and disused for decades, turning them into a vibrant public leisure complex.
At the heart of the design is a 25-metre heated outdoor swimming pool. Alongside the main pool, the facility will house a comprehensive range of amenities, including hot and cold immersion pools, four traditional saunas, modern changing facilities, dedicated relaxation areas, a restaurant, a café, and expansive outdoor terraces designed to integrate with the waterfront environment.
How does the developer plan to handle the historic site?
The project has been carefully structured to respect the heritage of the location, ensuring that the Victorian architectural elements remain central to the new development.
As reported by Tim Burke of Estates Gazette, Raoul Grünstein, chief executive of Nordic Urban, stated that: “Cardiff Bay has one of the most striking industrial waterfronts anywhere in Britain, and these docks have stood empty for decades. Our plan keeps the dock and its structures intact and puts them back into everyday use for local people to enjoy.”
Mr Grünstein further emphasized the community and cultural objectives of the enterprise, noting via Estates Gazette that:
“Our aim is to play a role in revitalising the waterfront and create a development where people can swim, sit in a sauna, eat and meet by the water, open all year and open to everyone. We believe this will be a real asset to Cardiff for years to come.”
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What are the next steps for the planning and development process?
Progress on the physical regeneration of the site is contingent upon formal regulatory approvals and municipal agreements. Nordic Urban has already secured an agreement with Cardiff Council for a long-term lease of the location; however, this agreement will only reach completion once official planning permission is successfully granted.
To bring the architectural vision to life, the developer has assembled a multidisciplinary design team. Nordic Urban is collaborating closely with architects and landscape designers at OOPEAA, Gross.Max, and Space & Place. Following the current public consultation phase, the developer intends to lodge a formal planning application with Cardiff Council for detailed review.
Background of the Development
The Mount Stuart Graving Docks represent an important piece of Cardiff’s industrial maritime heritage, reflecting the city’s historic prominence as a global coal-shipping hub during the Victorian era. Over the past several decades, shifts in maritime commerce and industrial practices left these dry docks redundant, leading to a long period of disuse and decay. Local authorities and urban planners have periodically evaluated options for the regeneration of the wider Cardiff Bay area, seeking ways to celebrate its striking industrial waterfront while delivering modern commercial and leisure value to the local community. The intervention by Nordic Urban bridges this gap by applying a Nordic-style public bathing culture model directly to a British industrial heritage asset.
This development could significantly impact the local community, leisure sector visitors, and regional tourism in Cardiff. By introducing an all-year, open-access wellness and dining facility directly onto the waterfront, the project is expected to increase footfall to the Bay area, driving local economic activity for surrounding hospitality businesses. For local residents and regular visitors to Cardiff, the transformation converts a neglected eyesore into an active community asset, blending modern recreational habits with historical preservation. However, local stakeholders and residents will likely scrutinize the planning application regarding traffic management, environmental impact on the listed structures, and the accessibility and pricing structure of the facility once operational.
