Work has started in Cardiff on a 3,000-seat £16m ice rink ahead of a 2015 opening.

The centre, which will be located at Cardiff Bay’s International Sports Village, will be home the Cardiff Devils ice hockey team and will house two ice rinks.

The development also comprises associated retail and hotel facilities, including a 170m ski slope, a nursery slope, snow-play facilities and children’s entertainment centres. There will also be shops, bars, restaurants, a hotel and new homes.

The project is being developed by Helium Miracle 113, a subsidiary of Wigan-based developer Greenbank Partnerships.

"Ice Arena Wales will be a world-class facility capable of holding Olympic and European standard events, but which will be available to all members of the public and local schools, in addition to the extensive network of amateur and professional teams that play currently from the existing rink,” said Jonathan Smith, development director of Greenbank.

"We are working with the National Ice Skating Association to provide world-class coaching facilities that befit an arena of this quality."

The sports village currently features a 50m pool, white water facility and temporary ice rink.