UPDATE 16th JUNE 2025

Barry Making Waves Update – Marina Dropped, But Project Still on Track

There’s been a key development in Barry’s waterfront regeneration plans. While the £20 million Levelling Up grant remains fully approved, the proposed 200-berth marina will no longer go ahead.

⚠️ Why was the marina dropped?
Associated British Ports (ABP), the partner behind the marina, withdrew their plans in early 2025 after reassessing the financials. They cited:

• 📈 Escalating operational and maintenance costs
• ❌ A business model that no longer stacked up
• ⚠️ Concerns over long-term viability and financial risk

Although this is a blow to the original vision, the council has acted swiftly to reshape the Barry Making Waves project, ensuring the funding remains secure and invested in the local area.

✅ What’s still going ahead:

• A new watersports centre (with Ocean Water Sports Trust & Cardiff & Vale College)
• Transformation of the Grade II* listed Dock Office into a business incubator
• Creation of a public park and supporting housing development

📅 The Council is now waiting for formal UK Government sign-off on the revised plans and expects to release a detailed timeline soon.

🛟 Bottom line: The regeneration is moving forward—just without the marina. The focus now is on long-term, sustainable community and business benefits.

Details regarding ABP’s decision:

🔍 Details:

• ABP had originally proposed a 200-berth marina as part of the wider regeneration of Barry Waterfront.
• However, in early 2025, ABP informed Vale of Glamorgan Council that:
  • Operating costs had escalated significantly, especially post-pandemic and amid economic uncertainty.
  • The marina would struggle to generate sustainable income, and the business case no longer stacked up.
• They also raised concerns about long-term maintenance liabilities and the risk of the site becoming a financial burden.

As a result, ABP withdrew from the marina proposal, forcing the council to revise the project scope to preserve the £20 million Levelling Up funding by focusing on deliverable components like the watersports centre and Dock Office incubator space.

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📢 Barry Making Waves Update – Marina Dropped, But Project Still on Track

There’s been a key development in Barry’s waterfront regeneration plans. While the £20 million Levelling Up grant remains fully approved, the proposed 200-berth marina will no longer go ahead.

⚠️ Why was the marina dropped?
Associated British Ports (ABP), the partner behind the marina, withdrew their plans in early 2025 after reassessing the financials. They cited:

• 📈 Escalating operational and maintenance costs
• ❌ A business model that no longer stacked up
• ⚠️ Concerns over long-term viability and financial risk

Although this is a blow to the original vision, the council has acted swiftly to reshape the Barry Making Waves project, ensuring the funding remains secure and invested in the local area.

✅ What’s still going ahead:

• A new watersports centre (with Ocean Water Sports Trust & Cardiff & Vale College)
• Transformation of the Grade II* listed Dock Office into a business incubator
• Creation of a public park and supporting housing development

📅 The Council is now waiting for formal UK Government sign-off on the revised plans and expects to release a detailed timeline soon.

🛟 Bottom line: The regeneration is moving forward—just without the marina. The focus now is on long-term, sustainable community and business benefits.

BREAKING NEWS MAY 28TH 2025

MARINA PROJECT NO LONGER DEEMED VIABLE BY ABP

Council statement on the Barry Making Waves Project

This follows an announcement from Associated British Ports (ABP) regarding the scheme.

• Wednesday, 28 May 2025 Vale of Glamorgan

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Cllr Lis Burnett, Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, said: “The Council is extremely disappointed to learn from ABP that the marina element of the Levelling Up Making Waves Project is no longer deemed viable due to rising operating costs.

“However, despite this clear setback, we remain confident that the Levelling Up Funding award made to the Council by UK Government and updated in 2024 following the election of the new Government remains viable. We believe the project can be delivered without the marina component, subject to UK Government agreement.

“The Making Waves scheme will still seek to retain leisure use on the water by bringing a new water sports centre to the Mole which will be operated jointly by the Ocean Water Sports Trust and Cardiff and Vale College. It will also see the creation of a public park for all to enjoy and will facilitate the delivery of much-needed housing. The scheme also includes the upgrading of the Grade 2* listed Dock Office into business incubator space to support local economic growth. We will now focus our attention on delivering these projects and will be seeking the agreement of the UK Government for this amended scheme.

“This Council has bold ambitions for Barry and will continue to deliver and promote projects that have a significant positive impact on the town. As well as the Making Waves scheme, we eagerly anticipate the development of the new Cardiff and Vale College site on the waterfront, the new restaurant development at Nell’s Point and the redevelopment of the St Richard Gwyn High School, which will complete the redevelopment of all secondary schools in Barry.

“Through our regeneration and placemaking work, we will continue to support Barry as a town that is a great place to live, work and visit with exciting opportunities for growth.”

HOT OFF THE PRESS | NEWS UPATE 31ST OCTOBER 2024

Chancellor gives the go ahead for Barry Waterfront Projects

As part of this week’s Budget, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves has approved The Vale of Glamorgan Council’s £19.9m bid funding to regenerate the Mole on Barry Waterfront.

• Thursday, 31 October 2024. Vale of Glamorgan Council Website states

The project will transform the areas Barry Waterfront with a new watersports centre, a marina, and new park. The Town’s Historic Dock Office will also be transformed into a new commercial space for businesses.

Partners on the projects include Associated British Ports, The Ocean Watersports Trust and Cardiff and Vale College. All played a part in getting the bid over the line.

Cllr Lis Burnett, Leader of the Council, said: “I welcome the Chancellor’s announcement. This project has been a long time in the making and it is great to see be approved.

“The Barry Making Waves project marks the next step on a regeneration journey that has already seen significant investment. This news combined with the announcement that up to an additional £20 million will be made available to the Barry Partnership means that regeneration projects will be supported across the length and breadth of Barry.

“I am confident that these projects will inevitably strengthen connectivity between the town centre and the Waterfront and create much needed training and employment opportunities.”

IN ADDITION TO THIS – IT WAS ALSO CONFIRMED

Barry to benefit from up to £20 million in government funding following budget announcement

Barry has again been selected as one of 75 towns across the United Kingdom to receive up to £20 million of funding under the UK Government’s Long-Term Plan for Towns programme.

Thursday, 31 October 2024 Vale of Glamorgan

This funding, part of a reformed initiative, is aimed at revitalising towns and empowering local communities to create sustainable change.

• The Barry Partnership, facilitated by the Vale of Glamorgan Council and led by David Stevens, co-founder and former CEO of Admiral, has recently been instrumental in developing a vision and comprehensive 10-year plan for the funding. Over the past year, the partnership has worked to identify local priorities, and it will now collaborate with both the UK and Welsh Governments to accelerate the delivery of the programme’s five national missions.

• Cllr Lis Burnett, Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council and Member of the Barry Partnership, said: “We are thrilled to see this investment coming to Barry. This funding gives us the chance to address long-standing challenges. We look forward to working closely with our residents, businesses, and partners to build a future that Barry’s people can be proud of.”

• David Stevens added: “We’re excited about the opportunity to bring real change to Barry, investing in the people and places that make our town special. By working together with residents, businesses and community representatives we can create a brighter future that targets the root causes of deprivation and unlocks new potential.”

This funding is designed to give communities the resources and support needed to build their vision for renewal and address local needs. The programme will prioritise inclusivity, ensuring that every resident can benefit from the town’s regeneration efforts regardless of their background.

A revised prospectus for the programme will be published in due course, setting out updated timelines and new strategic objectives that are closely aligned with the government’s national missions.

The Council will continue to play a central role in coordinating efforts to create a lasting positive impact for Barry’s residents.

On that point, Rob Thomas, the Council’s Chief Executive, said: “Confirmation of this funding is welcomed. It comes at a time when the Council itself is consulting on ambitious plans through the new Corporate Plan, which sets out a vision for the Vale of Glamorgan for the next five years. This gives us an excellent opportunity to invest in communities within Barry for the benefit of all residents.”

HOT OFF THE PRESS JULY 2024

NEW MARKETING COMPANY WHOZOO TAKES FOR OVER COMMERCIAL UNITS ON BARRY WATERFRONT

‘DOCKSIDE’ LAUNCH DATE 14/08/2024

NEW PURCHASE PRICES AND RENTAL PRICES IN DOWNLOADABLE BROCHURE

We have produced three project pages which outline the history of the dockland in Barry and the the progress that has been made on the dock regeneration project so far to the start of 2024 and the proposed location of Barry’s Marina.

COMING SOON

BARRY’S MARINA | PHOTOS OF THE COMPLETED WALKWAY BY THE MOLE

BARRY’S MARINA | PHOTOS OF THE WATERSPORT’S CENTRE CURRENTLY LOCATED ON THE MOLE

BARRY’S MARINA PHOTOS OF PROGRESS MADE ON LEISURE SITE WHERE WATERSPORTS CENTRE WILL RELOCATE