Koi Nooshi moves into Barry's Waterfront with food outlet

Despite new purpose built units for business development at Barry’s Waterfront, the district has remained empty for years.

The Waterfront Consortium, consisting of housing developers Persimmon Homes, Taylor Wimpey and Barratt, completed its huge development of houses at the town’s waterfront months ago – and finished the well intentioned business district years ago, yet the shopfronts have remained bordered up with photos of restaurants and gyms and bars (the things that actually should be there…).

We were told, when we went for a guided tour of the waterfront to see the areas that had STILL not been completed, some of the business units had been rented! But only to other agencies who were looking to rent them…

Now, it seems the beleaguered residents of the Waterfront zone will have somewhere to eat, be it more fast-food style than sit down at candle light…

Asian street food eatery Koi Nooshi is moving into the unit in front of the as yet unfinished waterfront area at the end of Charles Darwin Way and opposite Clos Y Rheilfford.

Koi Nooshi said on their Facebook they have waited two years for this moment and that they are hoping to trial some soft openings between Christmas and the New Year.

Koi Nooshi hopes to start some soft openings as soon as after Christmas (Image: Newsquest)

The ghost town business district at Barry's Waterfront, empty for years (Image: Newsquest)

The as yet unfinished Waterfront area in Barry

In November, we took a walk round the Waterfront with the expert guide of councillor and resident Plaid’s Mark Hooper.

He showed us public pathways that had still to be finished, street lighting that was only being installed now after waiting almost four years, and sections of the development that still remain untouched.

The Consortium insist all work will be completed and that the community assets of the development matter.

Barry's Waterfront housing program was developed by a consortium of construction companies who still haven't finished all the work (Image: Newsquest)

Despite the houses being finished, there is still public footpaths to be completed (Image: Newsquest)

• Recommended read:  Barry's Waterfront development: What's it really like?

The £20m marina coming to Barry?

There is further development planned for the land round Barry’s Waterfront.

The piece of land known as “the mole” is earmarked to be turned into a marina with £20m of levelling up funds won off the UK Government.

MP for the Vale, Conservative Alun Cairns described the plan as a “game-changer”.

However, Mr Hooper questioned how far £20m will go to actually building a marina and whether the project could become another development white elephant for Barry, as did the Waterfront.

Good news that a business is moving into the Waterfront? What do you want to see move into the Waterfront? How’s life there for everyday residents? Let us know, emailing harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.