Decision to be made on 23-storey block of flats

COUNCILLORS will today decide if a 23-storey block of flats can be built in Cardiff.

The proposal is for 109 apartments to be built on land off Dumballs Road in Butetown.

The land where the flats would be built is currently vacant and there is an industrial estate next to the land.

Nearby is the new Cardiff and Vale College building.

A new road would be built for vehicles to get to the flats and there would be a car park for 30 vehicles and 115 bikes.

Concerns have been raised about how this scheme could impact on a multi-million pound regeneration scheme of the area.

In December 2016, the council approved a £15m scheme to build 2,000 homes.

There are also concerns about how existing businesses would impact on people who would live in the new flats.

In response to the concerns, the planning report says Dumballs Road is no longer listed as only being for business, industry or warehouses.

An objection has been submitted by company Cardiff Speaker Hire.

It tests loud festival speakers and works until midnight.

It says there could be a conflict between its business and nearby homes.

The report adds: “The change of designation reflects council aspirations for the area to become part of the city centre, and to some extent this is reflected in the changing nature of the area which is becoming increasingly mixed use, with significant residential development to the south.

“This process is likely to accelerate as residential development comes forward on the large former industrial site to the west of Dumballs Road.

“However the fact remains that the proposal is for 109 dwellings and the site is sandwiched between two industrial estates which are home to several businesses. The potential impact of noise complaints from future occupiers of the development on existing businesses is therefore a material planning consideration”.

As part of the application, money would be given to improve park and community facilities nearby.

In total, £100,000 would go to improving Canal Park and the rest to centres including Butetown Community Centre, Butetown Youth Pavilion, Channel View Leisure Centre, local shops on Bute Street and James Street, and local community venues run by the voluntary sector in the ward.

The scheme is recommended for approval, with conditions.

The planning committee meets at 2.30pm today at County Hall.