Good growth in Cardiff

Cardiff has seen some of the highest population growth in Wales in recent years. That growth brings opportunity, but also pressure on services, infrastructure and communities. A targeted approach to development has been adopted to meet these challenges, with investment where it’s most needed, strategic use of public assets, and collaboration across sectors.

A renewed focus on financial resilience

Many cities across the UK are dealing with the dual pressures of rising demand for public services and constrained budgets. In Cardiff, this translated into a £28 million funding gap for the 2025/26 financial year, requiring tough choices and careful prioritisation.

Rather than relying on blanket cuts, Cardiff Council has sought to protect key services, including youth provision, social care and education, while implementing targeted savings, organisational reform and a council tax rise. It has also reimagined how its publicly owned assets can deliver more value. Large-scale events at Blackweir Fields and Cardiff Castle are expected to bring in over £35 million for the local economy, with income reinvested into frontline services.

Connecting more people to opportunity

While Cardiff has grown in recent years, the benefits have been concentrated in the city centre. The southern arc of the city, from Ely in the west to Rumney in the east, includes some of Wales’ most deprived neighbourhoods, home to around 150,000 people.

Major upgrades to public transport, including the £100 million Cardiff Crossrail scheme, aim to improve connections between underserved communities and major employment centres. Investments in active travel and the city’s district centres will bring services closer to where people live and support Cardiff’s commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

Over £200 million has also been committed to regeneration projects in the south, including the International Sports Village and a 15,000-capacity arena at Atlantic Wharf. These projects aim to improve access to jobs, attract investment and support local businesses.

Improving access to skills and good jobs

With ongoing disparities in opportunity, particularly around progression in parts of south Cardiff, improving access to skills and good jobs remains a core priority. Cardiff’s 2030 education strategy prioritises skills development and lifelong learning, vocational routes, and targeted support for areas with lower attainment or limited access to the labour market.

The Cardiff Commitment connects schools with over 600 employers — including NHS Wales, BBC Cymru, and Admiral — to offer mentoring, apprenticeships and work experience. The Cardiff Growth Fund, backed by the Shared Prosperity Fund, builds on this approach by supporting more than 100 local businesses with grants tied to job creation, skills development and local supply chain investment.

Delivering through collaboration

Much of Cardiff’s progress is being enabled through collaboration and partnership. The Council is working with developers, businesses, universities and anchor institutions to deliver housing, infrastructure and innovation.

This model has supported growth in the creative industries, with the Media Cymru partnership bringing together broadcasters, universities and civic bodies to develop Cardiff as a national centre for media innovation and production.

Cardiff also plays a leading role in the Cardiff Capital Region, a ten-council body with devolved powers in planning, transport and economic development. Through the £1.2 billion City Deal, the region is investing in shared infrastructure and helping to coordinate growth across South East Wales.

While financial constraints remain a challenge, Cardiff is demonstrating how a city can manage growth through structured planning, inclusive investment and pragmatic partnerships. The coming years will be shaped by how well these approaches can be sustained, and how far the benefits of growth can be extended across the whole city.