One Month To Go To £6m Hub Opening

The countdown is on to the opening of a new £6m community and leisure facility in the south of the city. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

STAR Hub will open its doors exactly one month from today on Monday, September 26. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new facility at Splott Park represents a major investment by the City of Cardiff Council, with a 25m swimming pool, a gym and fitness suite, a new library and multi-use community/leisure rooms. Advice services, training rooms and a community café will also be provided from the hub. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The finishing touches are now being completed by contractor, Willmot Dixon, before the building, which has been constructed to the latest standards of energy efficiency, including solar thermal panels to reduce heating costs, is handed over to the Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member for Community Development, Co-operatives and Social Enterprise, Cllr Peter Bradbury, said: “STAR Hub is going to be an amazing asset for people in the communities of Splott, Tremorfa Adamsdown and Roath. I’ve watched this building grow in what seems like no time at all – it will be just 57 weeks from when Willmott Dixon began work to the building being completed in September. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m pleased to be able to tell residents and people looking forward to using the facility that they will not be disappointed. It is fantastic inside and as the finishing touches are taking place over the next month, it will get even better. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m delighted we’ve been able to deliver a new pool for the community, while the large gym space, library and community café are really going to benefit people in the area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m very excited about this hub – I hope the community is too and they come along to see this marvellous facility on September 26.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as combining leisure facilities with a library and advice services, the hub will also bring some of the Council’s partners together under one roof, making it quicker and more convenient for customers to access services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Bradbury added: “Our hubs have been highly successful elsewhere in the city and we aim to replicate that success with the STAR Hub. We’ve seen increased uptake in our services like more people signing up for library membership or people accessing services and benefits they previously didn’t know they were eligible for.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In parallel with the STAR Hub development project, investment is also being made to the sports hall at Willows High School, which will be available for community use outside of school hours.
Details of availability will be announced in due course. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To facilitate the transfer of services to the new Hub, the current STAR Centre and Splott Library will close on Saturday, September 17 at 5.30pm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the transfer, the nearest library and leisure services will be at Central Library Hub, Penylan Library and Community Centre or Active Eastern. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Library users can also return books at the library book drop box at the STAR Communities First Shop from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Thursday at 27-29 Splott Road. There will be a small selection of books to choose from while recycling and food collection bags will also be available.
Housing and Benefit services are available at Central Library Hub. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​