Rebuilding Barry Island: A Simple Idea That Could Change Everything

There’s this idea I’ve had for a while now, and it just keeps circling in my head every time I pass the old harbour at Barry Island.

Right now, it’s dead space. A patch of unused land tucked between the beach, the bridges, and the car park, forgotten and full of potential. And I can’t help but think: why are we letting that land sit there doing nothing when it could be helping to bring jobs, tourism, and money into the area?

Imagine filling it in - literally. Level the land and turn it into a proper holiday park. Static caravans, lodges, maybe even chalets. Not some huge resort that swallows the Island whole, just a well-planned holiday complex that fits naturally into the landscape. Barry already gets its fair share of day-trippers when the sun’s out, but what if we gave them a reason to stay the weekend or the whole week?

The location makes so much sense. Right by the sea. Walking distance to the beach, the fairground, the cafés, the railway. It’s all there - we’re just not using it.

And it’s not like this would be the first of its kind. There are plenty of holiday companies out there - names like Parkdean, Haven, or Away Resorts - who are always on the lookout for seaside locations with good infrastructure. Barry Island has everything they’d need: a great setting, existing tourist appeal, strong transport links, and space to build. It’s the sort of place that’s already halfway there - it just needs the next step.

To make it work practically, the car park next to the old harbour could be part of the site. That might sound like a loss at first, but we’ve got a solution right across the tracks. The overflow car park on the other side of the railway could be turned into a multi-storey car park. That way, we don’t lose parking - we gain it, and it’s more efficient. Plus, it clears the seafront for better use than just being a car lot.

The railway itself is another huge bonus. Most seaside towns would love to have their own dedicated train station. Barry Island has one, and it connects straight to Cardiff and beyond. That means visitors don’t even need to drive here, cutting traffic and making holidays more accessible to more people.

Here’s another part of the idea that I think could work really well: the bridges. Underneath the road and rail bridges near the harbour, there’s a surprising amount of unused space. Solid ground, sheltered, and just waiting to be put to use. You could build walls between the bridge supports and lease out those spaces to independent businesses. Little units for coffee shops, craft stalls, bakeries, or whatever people want to run. It would make the area feel more alive, give locals affordable space to trade, and add some real character to the place.

And then there’s the bigger opportunity - maybe the most exciting part. If we fill in the harbour and build a proper sea wall to hold back the tide, we’re not just protecting the new development we’re also opening up a whole new connection point to the other side of Barry.

Think about it: a solid, walkable path from the Island through to Cold Knapp where there’s still so much space waiting for the right kind of investment. Once that connection is made, it could completely change the flow of foot traffic. It could give new businesses open up, I believe there’s trade to be had, to breathe new life into other areas.

This whole idea is a win-win. It brings jobs. It boosts tourism. It makes use of land that’s currently just going to waste. It invites outside investment while creating space for local businesses to grow. It reconnects parts of the town and helps bring pride back to a place that already has so much going for it.

Barry Island’s got everything - the charm, the beach, the people. All it needs now is someone to believe in it enough to take that next step. Not a massive flashy plan that never gets off the ground - just a smart, simple change that could benefit Barry, its people, and honestly, all of Wales.

Let’s stop letting that old harbour sit empty.

Let’s build something better. Together.


Unused space under rail and road bridges

Aerial view of the old harbour

Aerial view of old harbour

Potential area for a multi storey car park

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