Dr Who Exhibition to Get New Neighbours in Cardiff

Building work is starting on a centre for creative industries on the final section of undeveloped land along Cardiff Bay's waterfront. The BBC's Roath Lock studios and Doctor Who Experience attraction have already opened as part of the Porth Teigr development.

Work is now beginning on the Welsh government's £6m flagship centre for creative industries. The building will create office space and should be open by June 2014.

The Porth Teigr project - to create a hub for the creative industries - will host up to 8,000 jobs when completed, the Welsh government said.

As well as studios and office space, the finished development will include shops, restaurants and some 1,000 homes. Business Minister Edwina Hart officially cut the turf to start the construction of the creative centre on Wednesday. When the centre was given the go-ahead by planners in October she said it had the potential to "act as a catalyst to create a strong sector cluster".

"Wales has a strong and diverse creative industries sector which has been identified as one of our strategically important economic sectors with high growth potential," she added.

The BBC's Roath Lock drama village - the first building work completed on the site - has been given a Breeam outstanding certificate for its green credentials. Breeam is an environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings.

The studio complex was the first industrial building in the UK to get the highest possible environmental rating. The new six-storey creative centre will also be built to Breeam standards and will have environmentally friendly features to minimise energy consumption and reduce the need for heating and cooling.

It will be the first building at Porth Teigr to provide office space to private companies and can accommodate up to 300 staff. It will be located directly opposite the BBC studios, overlooking the waterfront. The Welsh government has spent £12m on a road and bridge to the 38-acre Porth Teigr site, part of the old Roath Dock which was built in 1874.

The centrepiece of the development is Roath Lock, which is home to BBC programmes including Doctor Who, Casualty, the Welsh-language drama Pobol y Cwm and children's drama Wizards vs Aliens. Porth Teigr is also home to two new visitor attractions - World of Boats and the Doctor Who Experience.