Cardiff discovers a new lease of life

Cardiff may still be the first city of Wales but the last 100 years has seen a complete transformation in its traditional profile. Incredibly, the city boasted the World’s busiest port at one point in Victorian times as global demand for coal hewn from the Welsh valleys soared in volume. After the Second World War, the coal industry entered decline as cheaper supplies from overseas countries moved into the market and people discovered cleaner sources of energy. Cardiff inevitably felt the impact and was forced to re-invent itself.
This effort was boosted at the turn of the 21st century by the Labour government’s push to regenerate depressed industrial cities and by the devolution measures which gave much more power to the Welsh Assembly which has been based in the city since its formation in 1999.
People visiting Cardiff today would have great difficulty in recognising the city and the Tiger Bay dock area where singer, Shirley Bassey, grew up in the 1950-s. Now the area is characterised by smart waterside apartments, trendy cafes and bars and affluent yacht basins. Believe it or not, the city has now become something of a tourist destination with over 18 million visitors arriving every year. Major attractions include some excellent shopping centres, a vibrant nightlife scene and, of course, the occasional international rugby match. The result is that one in five workers in the city now work in services like hotels and restaurants. 
Another big stimulus to Cardiff’s rejuvenation has come from the arrival of many financial services companies. Lying just across the Severn from Bristol, the city is connected by fast road ( M4 ) and rail links to London and is actually closer to the capital than many major cities in England are. It is therefore a popular destination for businesses looking for sites which are relatively cheap yet are also convenient for the South of England. The thriving international airport is also proving a major asset in attracting top companies.
Another unlikely source of economic benefit is the city’s growing appeal as a retirement destination combining its seaside location with all the leisure facilities one would expect from a conurbation of this size. Elderly people who are used to all the amenities of an urban environment like Birmingham or Wolverhampton yet are looking to combine these with a healthy lifestyle are increasingly looking at retirement properties and care homes in Cardiff and its immediate environs.