The WhatHouse? team explores Cardiff and why it is a great choice if you’re planning to buy a brand new home.
It is remarkable that with all its history and the significant part it plays in life in Wales, Cardiff was only given the title of the capital city of Wales in 1955. Coal mining in South Wales was instrumental in its industrial success but the city today is adapting to a very different economy and culture.
With a surge in population over the last 20 years, many new homes have been built to accommodate them. There’s an ongoing major regeneration of the city which is creating thousands of new homes to suit all kinds of taste and budget, from traditional-influenced starter homes in the suburbs to luxurious, contemporary, city centre apartments.
Coast and countryside
For lovers of nature and landscape, among the most exceptional places to visit from Cardiff are Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Gower Peninsula and the Brecon Beacons.
Sport and fitness
Rugby – The Principality Stadium (previously known as the Millennium Stadium) is the home of Welsh rugby, with a capacity of 74,000. The Cardiff Blues play at Cardiff Arms Park.
Football – Cardiff City is a Championship team with 120 years of history.
There's also an indoor climbing centre; Cardiff International White Water; National Indoor Athletics Centre; ice rink and ice hockey rink; Cardiff International Pool & Gym.
Music and entertainment
The city has an impressive range of music and theatre venues including St David’s Hall for some top-class classical concerts, the New Theatre for plays, musicals comedy and more, The Motorpoint Arena which has hosted many globally famous rock and pop stars, and places such as TramShed which host well-known and up-and-coming acts across the entertainment world. Many other pubs and clubs host live bands and DJs across the music spectrum.
Food and drink
These are the Top 3 Cardiff eateries according to BBC Good Food:
Heaneys – Created by the Great British Menu finalist Tommy Heaney, this place in Pontcanna has a daily-rotating menu.
Dusty Knuckle – This specialist of Neapolitan-style pizzas, baked in their wood-fired oven, can be found in a covered outdoor courtyard at the Printhaus.
The Potted Pig – A restaurant and gin lounge based in an old bank vault which boasts seasonal British-influenced menu alongside a huge choice of gins.
Pubs
Among the best pubs in the city (via TripAdvisor):
Hophunter – Cardiff CAMRA pub of the year 2016
The Cambrian Tap – “Meat pies and beer flights”
The Packet – “Authentic pub in the Bay neighbourhood”
Road connections
Swansea, 1hr
Birmingham, 2hrs 20mins
Central London, 3hrs
Direct rail connections
Bristol, 35 mins
London Paddington, 2hrs
Birmingham, 2hrs
Southampton, 2hrs 30mins
There are numerous regional services to the likes of Merthyr Tydfil, Ebbw Vale, and Pembroke.
Education in Cardiff
The most oversubscribed primary schools:
Pontprennau Primary
Marlborough Primary
Rhydypenau Primary
Danescourt Primary
Millbank Primary
The best secondary schools:
Cardiff High School (best in Wales)
Bishop of Llandaff Church In Wales High School
Ysgol Glantaf
The best further/higher education:
Cardiff Sixth Form College
Cardiff and Vale College
Cardiff Academy
Cardiff University has 7,500 students and is undergoing a £600million campus upgrade.
Regeneration plans
The Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) City Deal will see £1.2billion invested in the area over 20 years. There’s a proposed £120million new business district and sustainable transport hub between Cardiff and Newport. Plans are in place for a new museum on what is currently the site of a Grade II* listed building in Cardiff Bay.
'The Mayfair' house type at Regency Park At Llanilltern Village
Brand new homes for sale in Cardiff
One of the most active parts of Cardiff right now is on its northwestern fringes, near Creigiau, with the ongoing Llantilltern Village project, where numerous housebuilders are contributing to a total of around 1,500 new homes around 25 minutes from the city centre and moments away from the M4. Regency Park, from Charles Church, currently has a selection of four-bedroom houses for sale from £419,995, while Persimmon Homes offers two- and three-bedroom properties here from £169,995.
Persimmon Homes is also busy on the northeastern side of the city, near the popular area of St Mellons. St Edeyrns is a brand new village close to the A48 link road between Newport and Cardiff, which will appeal to commuters looking to benefit from the15-minute journey time to the centre of both cities. Currently available here are two-, three- and four-bedroom house types from £244,995 to £424,995, and people reserving a home here before 28 February can ask about a special offer choice of 105% Part Exchange on their current home, or a mortgage-free first ten months in their new home.
Moments from Cottrell Park Golf Resort, in the charming village of Bonvilston, Acorn Property Group is offering high-specification four- and five-bedroom executive homes from £685,000 at Cottrell Gardens. Keen house-hunters should act quickly to make the most of a limited-time offer here – reserving before 31 January 2023 means they could benefit from a £10,000 contribution to Land Transaction Tax.
The ‘Osbourne’ house type
For some luxury, Edenstone Group is building Beaufort Park development in Lisvane and right now, the housebuilder is offering a special 3% discount on selected new homes. Sales director Adele McCoy said: “Beaufort Park features some of the largest and most luxurious homes we build. Prices here start from just under £1million and so the 3% discount is quite considerable. On plot three, the five-bedroom detached ‘Osbourne’, the saving amounts to £45,750. That’s enough to purchase an average-priced SUV at £38,000 and have money to spare, perhaps for a luxurious family break or to purchase new furniture for your new home.” Using the 3% discount, which is available for a limited time only, the 4,239-sq-ft ‘Osbourne’ can be purchased for £1,479,250. Find out more at www.edenstonehomes.com.
For people over 70-years-old who want to combine homeownership with the benefits of personal care and communal facilities, Llys Isan will be a development in the suburb of Llanishen from WhatHouse? Award-winning specialist developer McCarthy Stone. The 49 assisted living apartments are specifically designed for older residents providing security and comfort, with tailored care packages available. The one- and two-bedroom private properties are complemented by shared lounge and landscaped gardens as well as a bistro and guest suite. There are great amenities and transport links on the doorstep. Prices on application.
Cardiff Living is another major development of 1,500 new homes comprising many smaller schemes offering an impressive range of property type and styles to suit all buyers, and with a high proportion of affordable and rental homes. For private sale, there are now just two homes available at Foxglove Court, which has delivered properties to suit all buyers, from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom family homes. The two remaining for sale are both the ‘Reed’ apartment type, with a starting price of £247,500. This 773-sq-ft home has an open-plan kitchen/living/dining area and both bedrooms are double sized and complemented by a contemporary-style bathroom. It comes with an allocated off-streeet parking space. Find out more at cardiffliving.wales.
Coming soon at Cardiff Living is Maple Fields, a new range of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes for private sale and Shared Ownership.