Tue 22nd Nov 2016 - SA Brain unveils Cardiff brewery site redevelopment plans SA Brain unveils Cardiff brewery site redevelopment plans: Welsh brewer and hospitality retailer SA Brain has unveiled plans for the proposed redevelopment of its Cardiff brewery site. At more than three million square feet, Central Quay will be one of the largest regeneration projects in the UK and feature offices, hotels and apartments alongside a waterfront leisure zone. The Brains brewery building and chimney would be retained in recognition of the site’s brewing heritage and form a backdrop to the waterfront scheme, where water taxis and small private yachts would be able to moor. The joint venture between SA Brain and Rightacres Property has now been confirmed and will deliver the Central Quay development. SA Brain chief executive Scott Waddington said: “We recognise the brewery site has huge potential for redevelopment and, at the same time, we needed to reinvest in our brewing plant, office and training facilities. This presented the opportunity for us to relocate and enable the Central Quay development to take place, where we expect our Brains and Coffee#1 brands to feature. While moving from our Crawshay Street home in the centre of Cardiff will be sad, I am excited by the potential the scheme creates for both our business and employees. We are also aware of numerous other brands that want a presence in Cardiff and believe Central Quay’s waterfront location will drive huge investment from some of the national and international operators who want to be in Cardiff.” The development would be complementary to Network Rail’s masterplan for the station and the proposed Metro system in the Welsh capital. Rightacres will continue developing the masterplan with its design team over the next few months in consultation with city council planners and other stakeholders in the 15-acre site to the south of the station. While it will take SA Brain up to two years to fully relocate its brewing facility there are opportunities to bring forward a number of parcels of land within 12 months. Waddington said: “We are looking at a number of different opportunities for the new brewery facility and hope to announce our final decision early in the new year.” Rightacres chief executive Paul McCarthy added: “We would hope to submit detailed planning for our first buildings towards the middle of next year, with a view to getting under way with construction towards the end of 2017.”