Key Points
- Nordic Urban will file a planning application to Cardiff Council in October 2026, to turn the Grade II listed Mount Stuart Graving Docks into a Nordic bath and sauna venue.
- The proposed Allas Pool Cardiff facility costing £17 million will include a 2,000 square meter development featuring a 25-meter heated outdoor swimming pool, hot and cold pools, four saunas, changing and relaxation facilities, restaurant and café and outdoor terraces.
- Baths will be open for use throughout the year while terraces and waterfront path along the dock will remain free to access by everyone without any entrance fee.
- Nordic Urban has already reached a principle agreement with Cardiff Council for long-term lease of the land, which will be finalized after securing the planning permission.
- Construction process is expected to take approximately two years starting from when the permission will be granted.
- Public consultation for the project is already underway and will last until October 13, 2026.
- Cardiff is the first planned destination of Nordic Urban in the UK and Ireland where the company intends to construct at least five such facilities.
Cardiff (Wales Times) September 21, 2026 – Finnish waterfront developer Nordic Urban has confirmed it will submit a planning application to uk/local/cardiff/cardiff-council/">Cardiff Council in October for Allas Pool Cardiff, a £17 million year-round outdoor bathing and sauna complex in the Mount Stuart Graving Docks at Cardiff Bay.
As reported by WalesOnline, the scheme would bring the Grade II-listed dry docks, disused for decades, back into public use as a 2,000 sq m complex built around a 25-metre heated outdoor swimming pool. Alongside it will sit hot and cold pools, four saunas, changing and relaxation facilities, a restaurant and cafe, with outdoor terraces looking out over the water.
The baths will be open to the public all year and the terraces and the waterside walk around the dock will remain open to everyone without an admission charge, bringing a stretch of the Cardiff Bay dockside back into public use. Nordic Urban has an agreement with Cardiff Council for a long-term lease of the site, which will be completed once planning permission is in place. Construction is expected to take around two years from the point permission is granted.
Who is behind the £17m Nordic baths project?
Nordic Urban, a Finnish waterfront development firm, is behind the Allas Pool Cardiff project. The company intends to build at least five such facilities in the UK and Ireland, with Cardiff marking the first location in the region where Nordic Urban plans to establish its presence.
As reported by Raoul Grünstein, CEO of Nordic Urban, in statements covered by WalesOnline and BE News:
“Cardiff Bay has one of the most striking industrial waterfronts anywhere in Britain, and these docks have stood empty for decades. Our plan keeps the dock and its structures intact and puts them back into everyday use for local people to enjoy.”
He continued:
“Our aim is to play a role in revitalising the waterfront and create a development where people can swim, sit in a sauna, eat and meet by the water, open all year and open to everyone. We believe this will be a real asset to Cardiff for years to come.”
The project team includes GROSS.MAX, a UK-based landscape architecture practice, and SPACE & PLACE, experts in sports and leisure architecture, according to reporting by WalesOnline. The lead concept architect is OOPEAA, a Finnish architecture firm known for integrating traditional wooden construction with modern design.
What facilities will the Allas Pool Cardiff include?
The Allas Pool Cardiff scheme will comprise a 2,000 sq m complex built around a 25-metre heated outdoor swimming pool alongside hot and cold pools, four saunas, changing and relaxation facilities, a restaurant and cafe and outdoor terraces looking out over the water.
As reported by WalesOnline, the versatile indoor spaces are designed to accommodate cultural and community events throughout the year, in addition to the dining options available. The Allas Cardiff project draws inspiration from Nordic Urban’s original Allas Pool in Helsinki, which opened in 2017 and attracts around 800,000 visitors annually, making it one of the top wellness and leisure attractions in the Finnish capital.
When will planning application be submitted and consultation end?
Nordic Urban will lodge a planning application with Cardiff Council in October 2026. A pre-planning public consultation is under way and will run until October 13, 2026, according to reporting by WalesOnline.
Nordic Urban has reached a preliminary agreement for a long-term lease of the site with Cardiff Council, which will be finalized once planning approval is obtained. Construction is anticipated to take approximately two years from the point permission is granted.
Background of the development
The Mount Stuart Graving Docks at Cardiff Bay are Grade II-listed Victorian dry docks that have remained disused for decades following the departure of commercial shipbuilding from the bay. The site represents one of the most remarkable industrial waterfronts in Britain, according to Raoul Grünstein, CEO of Nordic Urban.
Nordic Urban’s proposal aims to preserve the dock and its structures while reinstating them for local residents to enjoy. The company emphasized that the Cardiff project has been tailored to reflect the area’s heritage and landscape, with the plan retaining the dock walls, steps, and structures to preserve the maritime legacy of the site.
The Allas Pool concept originates from Helsinki, Finland, where the original Allas Pool opened in 2017 and has since become one of the top wellness and leisure attractions in the Finnish capital, attracting around 800,000 visitors annually. Cardiff marks the first location in the UK and Ireland where Nordic Urban plans to establish its presence, with additional projects also underway in the Nordic region and the Baltic states.
Prediction: How this development can affect Cardiff residents and visitors
The Allas Pool Cardiff development is likely to have several effects on Cardiff residents and visitors once operational. The year-round outdoor bathing and sauna facility is expected to bring a stretch of the Cardiff Bay dockside back into public use, with the terraces and waterside walk around the dock remaining open to everyone without an admission charge.
The development could contribute to the revitalization of the waterfront, creating a venue where individuals can swim, relax in a sauna, dine, and socialize by the water throughout the year. As noted by Raoul Grünstein, CEO of Nordic Urban, the company believes this will be a significant asset to Cardiff for years ahead.
The versatile indoor spaces designed to accommodate cultural and community events throughout the year could also provide additional opportunities for local cultural and community activities. With construction expected to take around two years from the point permission is granted, the facility could be operational by approximately 2028 if planning approval is secured in a timely manner.
