Flats plan for city ‘backwater’

DEVELOPERS say their plans to transform a “backwater” of Cardiff could help reinvent the area.

Plans for 206 flats to be built in two buildings on land at Dumballs Road in Cardiff have been submitted.

The developers, Urbancentric, say that the area is in a “state of readiness” for redevelopment.

A number of developments have been approved or proposed for Dumballs Road in the past two years.

But the developers of this latest scheme say their public square would link to Curran Road, offering benefits there too.

The planning application says: “At present Curran Road is somewhat of a backwater and does not harbour the best reputation in terms of social behaviour.

“However, the council aspiration is to have this as one of the connecting streets to the Dumballs Road regeneration area.

“The proposal will ensure that the complexion of Curran Road will be changed at its closest point to the city and facilitate part delivery of a roll-out of reinvention of the road making it safer and a nicer place to be.

“This will also be the case on Dumballs Road but here this is already happening and is more certain”.

The developer does, however, warn that “whilst its status will never be that of a ‘Prime Street,’ it must nevertheless be pleasant and safe”.

The latest development would be mainly eight storeys, but going up to 12.

It would also include a public square, cafe and roof terrace for residents.

They are the latest plans to redevelop the industrial area in a bid to provide an attractive link between the city centre and Cardiff Bay.

The new Cardiff and Vale College building opened on Dumballs Road in 2015.

A new 23-storey tower of 109 flats on Dumballs Road was approved in June and there has also been a proposal for a 25-storey tower on Curran Road at Crawshay Court.

Huge plans for the Brains Brewery site – just metres from Dumballs Road – have also been made public.

In 2016, the council announced it wanted to buy eight acres of land to redevelop the industrial area and private investor Vastint would buy 24 acres.