Buddhist meditation centre to open in city

A BUDDHIST meditation centre is set to open in a Cardiff suburb.

Approval has been given for part of a building most recently used as an insurance brokers in Canton to be turned into a centre which offers mindfulness and holistic therapies.

The applicant is Kagyu Samye Dzong Cardiff which has a centre in London and trainers affiliated with the Samye Ling Monastery in Scotland – the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the West.

The application is for the three-storey building at 248 Cowbridge Road East to be adapted.

It would have a tea room/lounge, kitchen, toilet, and meeting and meditation room.

The applicant says that the classes are not intended to convert people to Buddhism but offer “therapeutic skills and techniques to help people to overcome the stresses and strains of modern life”.

The first floor would be turned into two flats for volunteers and visiting teachers. There would also be a kitchen/lounge/dining area as well as shower room for each flat.

Another flat would be created on the second floor.

No changes would be made to the outside of the building and parking for cars and bikes is available in the courtyard.

The market interest.

The applicant says that the change of use of the building would benefit the surrounding area and bring a building has been on for two years with the no “community use to a vacant building which would more than outweigh any perceived loss of office accommodation”.

Cardiff council planning officers have approved the application.