2,000-home scheme for waterfront

An aerial view of the waterfront

A £350m development is planned for the final phase of the regeneration of Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Developers say the 2,000 new homes and hotel, restaurants, retail outlets and possibly a cinema will be designed to the highest environmental standards.

The 41-hectare site is the largest and the last remaining key site of the area known as Waterfront Barry.

The Welsh Assembly Government and Associated British Ports (ABP) have agreed the site's sale to a consortium.

Housebuilders Taylor Wimpey, Persimmon Homes and Barratt Homes, who are in the consortium, will now apply for planning consent from the council and said they would undertake extensive community consultation.

They want to include 400 affordable homes in the development, which also earmarks 300,000 sq ft for commercial and leisure uses overlooking Number One Dock.

Tall ships come to the Waterfront festival

The developers said that once finished, the new quarter would effectively link Barry Island with the town of Barry.

Economy and Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said the proposals supported the assembly government's green strategy to promote sustainable development and its drive to achieve higher environmental standards on new schemes.

"Waterfront Barry plays a vital role in the ongoing regeneration of south Wales and these proposals will provide a significant boost for the area and create new jobs through the commercial and leisure developments.

Phil Williams, of landowner ABP, said the agreement with the consortium marled the end of an era.

"It's easy to forget, 16 years on, what a huge difference the Waterfront Barry scheme has made to the landscape and economy of the area. We consider it a job well done."

Since 1991, large areas of new homes have been built in Barry around the waterfront, and a supermarket and retail park have also opened.