Plan to develop former railway station approved
PLANS to convert a Grade II-listed former railway station in Cardiff into office space and retail units have been given the green light despite objections.
Cardiff Council planners granted permission to refurbish the former Bute Street station building and construct a connected four-storey building to provide retail space and offices.
A number of historical groups objected to the plans which they felt would “harm” the building which had been included on a list of the 10 most endangered buildings in England and Wales.
Despite objections planners approved the development on Wednesday despite their own disagreement over the design of the extension.
Councillor Frank Jacobsen said: “I’m glad to see that someone is taking an interest in this building.
“I’m glad to see someone throw money at the old lady. I hope they keep the characteristics of it. It looks good.”
Councillor Ali Ahmed said he has had “many people” contact him over the years about the building being empty.
He added: “I’m absolutely not happy with the extension.”
Councillor Chris Lay expressed his support for the plans and approved of the extension design, which councillor Sean Driscoll likened to a multi-storey “carwash”.
The extension will provide retail space (shop/food and drink), 10 live/work units, with 19 office rooms and a concierge/reception room.
The Victorian Society and The Ancient Monuments Society had objected to the plans for the listed building.
In the council report, The Victorian Society said: “We object to the application, which would cause a high degree of harm to the building and its setting, and because the quality of the application falls well short of what is required given the Station’s II-listing and the potential impact of the proposals.
“The Bute Road Station is one of the oldest and most significant railway structures in Wales. It is one the society has long been concerned about and only last year was included on our list of the 10 most endangered buildings in England and Wales.
“We object to the proposed extension on a number of grounds. Firstly, it is too tall. We object also to its architectural treatment, which is aesthetically jarring, disappointingly banal and fails to convey any sense of responsiveness or sensitivity to the listed building and its setting.
“What is proposed is little more than a relatively mundane commercial block crudely tacked on to one of Wales’ most important historic railway structures. In purely technical terms the application is unacceptably poor.”
In the report, The Ancient Monuments Society said it also objected and branded the building as “rather generic” that looks “incongruous and out of place” in the location. A planning officer told the committee that there is nothing of historic value left inside the building, some of the floors are collapsed, and that “squatters” had occupied the site.
Approval was given for the two separate applications made by ABA Holdings Ltd, one for listed building consent and the other for full planning permission.