Flats spark ‘city of shadows’ warning
YET ANOTHER STUDENT TOWER BLOCK IS BEING PLANNED FOR CARDIFF, PROMPTING MP’S CONCERN OVER FUTURE OF CAPITAL’S SKYLINE
ANOTHER huge block of student flats is being proposed for Cardiff – and it’s one of the biggest yet.
The former Evans Halshaw garage in East Bay Close in Splott could become home to a development of 711 student rooms.
But the growing vogue for student flats and city apartments has sparked criticism, with one politician now warning Cardiff should not risk becoming a “city of shadows” or create a “new generation of ’70s multi-storey carparks”.
Concerns have been raised about the impact the proposed development will have on traffic and parking in the south of the city.
The scheme is also the first of the newbuild sites being created for students to include a tennis court, volleyball court, basketball and table tennis spaces. The 10-storey building would include a gym, cinema, meeting room and a roof garden.
The proposed occupancy would make this development bigger than the Howard Gardens site, with 686 bed spaces, and another 42-storey tower planned for the city centre which would have 447 beds.
Referring to the latest development, Cardiff South and Penarth MP Stephen Doughty said: “Redeveloping brownfield sites for accommodation or new businesses has always been a key part of the regeneration of Cardiff Bay and the city centre but some of these developments – whether student tower blocks or the monstrosity proposed for Dolffin Quay – seem to be being pushed without proper regard for the impact on parking and local services.
“Local people and long-established communities in Butetown and the Bay are already experiencing significant pressures and it is not acceptable to build thousands of new residential or student places without proper plans to cope with the additional people. Many of these buildings are also going up with little thought about the skyline, architecture and long-term building quality. We do not want Cardiff to become a city of shadows, or simply create a new generation of ’70s multi-storey car parks.”
Those behind the scheme say it would offer “high-quality student accommodation within walking distance of the city centre and existing university facilities”.
The land is next to the A4234 Central Link Road and to the south of the railway station.
The developer says: “The site is in a very prominent central location that offers direct access to employment, leisure, shopping and major transport links.”
The plans have been submitted to Cardiff council for consideration.
One comment already submitted raises concerns about traffic. Anthony Jones wrote: “Traffic is already horrendous on East Bay Close, with all extra cars and residents, will be impossible to park and worried about people parking on my property, so unless there is plans to change road infrastructure, this could be a disaster.”
The scheme is targeted at students using Cardiff University and the University of South Wales. The development would be mainly made up of studios but with 30% used as shared rooms.
The plans include 32 car park spaces and 240 spaces for bikes.
Vehicles would enter by East Bay Road and the plans include a drop-off zone. Pedestrians would access the site via a new pavement and cycleway which will link in with the existing access in East Tyndall Street.
The developer says: “The scheme provides a strong presence at this prominent location, with good views across the surrounding area.”
There would be a 24-hour management team at the site and CCTV.