£9M EYESORE FLATTENED
DEMOLITION of a £9m Cardiff city centre car park has finally been completed as part of the transformation of Central Square.
Work began on demolishing the NCP car park in Wood Street in February as part of the regeneration programme outside Cardiff Central station.
It means one of the city’s most notorious eyesores is no longer there – temporarily leaving a clear view from Wood Street down towards Cardiff Bay.
Work is well under way in creating a state-of-the-art headquarters for the BBC and a new bus station, which are designed by Foster+Partners.
The former bus station and Marland House building have already been demolished as part of the regeneration.
In September 2014 it was revealed that Cardiff council had spent £9m on buying the car park, admitting at the time they would likely demolish the building.
At the time of the acquisition, a council spokesman said: “The NCP car park was purchased by the council to establish complete ownership and control of the regeneration area.
“Extending the regeneration area to include the car park site provides greater flexibility in terms of the options available for regeneration.
“The cost was based on an independent valuation of the building based on its current use as a car park with the associated income generated. Although it is likely that the car park will be demolished to enable regeneration, there remains potential for the car park to be refurbished to generate income longterm.”
He added: “The council remains confident that its full outlay on land assembly in Central Square will be recouped from future land sales to enable development.”