Tower block for students given the go-ahead by planners

PROPOSALS to build 146 new student rooms in a tower block in Cardiff have been given the green light by planners.

Cardiff council’s planning committee gave the go-ahead for the five to eightstorey development of student accommodation on City Road.

The proposals were approved despite some councillors voicing objections about the design and height of the building, and the “saturation” of students.

The plans were approved, subject to a number of conditions – including the developers putting forward £55,000 for highway infrastructure.

Some councillors criticised the plans at the meeting at County Hall yesterday.

Conservative councillor Lyn Hudson, who serves Heath, said: “No, no, no. This area does not need this building which is totally incongruous to the rest of City Road apart from the bottom end.

“This is a predominantly three-storey building area.”

Coun Hudson added the building “will set a precedent” and “stand out like a sore thumb”.

Labour councillor Ali Ahmed, who serves Cathays, raised concerns about parking for students and the height of the building, but added he supported the plans overall.

Labour councillor Frank Jacobsen, who serves Pentwyn, said the building would be “overbearing” and that the area is “already saturated” with students.

The proposal put forward by Draycott Construction Ltd include 146 studio rooms, each 30 m sq, as well as a private internal landscaped courtyard, two ground-floor shops, with internal refuse and cycle storage.

The £55,000 for highways will secure “essential” infrastructure, including a zebra crossing on City Road and “the implementation of the City Road phase of the 20mph area speed limits”.

The number of rooms has been reduced from the original number of 225, with the plans being amended in March and July.

A council report said local councillors Mary McGarry, Sue Lent and Daniel De’Ath, all serving the Plasnewydd ward, object to the amended plans, which were filed in March.

They said: “We have looked at the amended plans and cannot see how the objections of local residents and businesses have been addressed.

“The buildings will still overshadow the backs of houses in Richmond Road and the design is totally out of keeping with the Victorian buildings next to the development, including the Park Conservative Club. So please add our objections, as local councillors, to this application.”

Nine objections were received from neighbours from the initial consultation in January, while a further three objections were submitted from the amended plans consultation in March, and a further one objection was received from the second amended plans consultation in July.

A petition of 27 signatures, objecting to the proposals, was also received in February, while three statements of support were submitted in January.

Some of the themes the objections mentioned included the height of the development, “noise and disturbance from drunk students”, and issues of litter and waste management.