Flats could get go-ahead despite concerns

AN EMPTY office block in Cardiff could be turned into student flats despite concerns about the impact on road safety.

The empty Alexander House on Excelsior Road, between Wickes and Tesco Extra, could become 213 student bedrooms.

However, council officers have said they have concerns about offices being turned into flats and about road safety at a junction.

They say it is on an existing business park and has an “attractive office offer with good transport links, ample parking and amenities adjacent for employees to use”.

“Having a strong out-of-town office offer is important for Cardiff so that a range and choice of office accommodation is available to potential inward investors or indigenous companies,” said an officer.

“Alexander House has had a high level of occupation for a number of years and the majority of other employment uses on the business park have high levels of occupancy.”

The developer says the site has been empty for two years and they have not been able to let it.

Further concerns have been put forward about the junction. A loading/drop-off bay is proposed but the council’s transport officer says there have been a number of accidents.

They say the road safety team are assessing the area.