1,000 more flats set to be built in Cardiff if developments are approved
FOUR new huge developments look set to be approved this week, creating more than 1,000 flats in Cardiff.
Two of the developments are for student flats, totalling 704 rooms.
The other two, including a 25-storey tower, would be for 346 flats.
Councillors will be asked to give permission to all four schemes separately at a planning meeting on Thursday.
One is for a 19-storey building at Bradley Court on the corner of Park Place and Stuttgarter Strasse.
It would include 320 studio rooms as well as a movie room, gym and restaurant.
An application for a building of up to 11 storeys at Howard Gardens in Adamsdown would include spaces for 384 students. It would also include communal spaces and a cafe/restaurant.
A proposal for the former Browning Jones and Morris site in Dumballs Road would see an existing warehouse demolished and 206 flats built in two different buildings.
The fourth application would see a 25-storey building built in Crawshay Court, off Curran Road, containing 140 flats.
The city has seen a boom in applications for student flats in recent years.
Numerous applications have been put through the system and a number completed and opened to students.
Already two developers have asked for permission to let the flats not to students, as they were given planning permission for, but to the general public.
The biggest of the new schemes is at Howard Gardens on land including a former bowling green.
One development, Eclipse, is already under way there.
This application, from Crosslane Student Developments (UK) Ltd, would be a building varying between four and 11 storeys.
Access would be from Newport Road Lane to a student reception area.
Communal facilities include a common room, media room, and study rooms, as well as cycle storage.
A new park would be created on the site of the Adamsdown Play Centre and playground.
The lowest part of the building is next to the existing Victorian terraced properties on the east of Howard Gardens.
No parking is included in the plans but there are 104 bike spaces.
The council’s transport officer says the plan would result in about 400 residents, staff, visitors and customers, using the local facilities.
A petition against the plans signed by 111 people has been submitted.
A second petition had to be excluded as it wasn’t completed in the correct format.
Complaints include an “oversupply of student accommodation” and “impact on air quality”.
Residents say they fear student accommodation is “changing the character of the neighbourhood and running the risk of future under-utilisation and the possibility of neglected or derelict properties and associated criminal activities”.
JLL, on behalf of the neighbouring student block, has also objected. It says the documents were not completed properly and the site is “overdeveloped”.
However, planning officers say it will allow “high-quality purpose-built student housing in a sustainable city centre location” and recommend approval.
The scheme at Bradley Court would see the 1980s office building demolished. The offices have been empty for a year. The neighbouring listed 11 Park Place would become part of the new student scheme.
There have been alterations to the scheme to redesign the tower and it has been reduced by two storeys during the planning process. A new courtyard would also be built. There would be spaces for 80 bikes
and one disabled parking space and a loading bay.
Students would also get access to roof terraces.
Council officers want £175,000 paid towards introducing a new crossing and improving pedestrian and cycle crossings in the area.
Cardiff Civic Society has objected saying the scheme would be built on “one of the most sensitive and important sites in Wales” as it neighbours the Civic Centre.
The objection continues: “The justification for this application uses the rather odd rationale of the existence and precedence of Capital Tower, which has long since been regarded as a planning disaster by architecture and planning professionals.
“It is widely understood to be extremely damaging to the setting of Cathays Park and the Civic Centre.
“It should be asked if this application for student housing is a cynical ploy to avoid the stricter planning controls for flats, such as the need for parking facilities and better fire escape arrangements.
“Also whether there is need for so much luxury student accommodation when the market for overseas students, who are mostly the only students that can afford such accommodation, is under threat.”
The Victorian Society has also objected saying: “In no way can the proposed new building convincingly be argued to result in a ‘limited’ impact on the setting of the numerous listed buildings, conservation areas and key view.”
The Design Commission for Wales says alterations to the designs do not go far enough.
In a lengthy analysis, the impact on the heritage of the area is deemed to be acceptable.
The response reads: “Given the divisive impact of the intervening Boulevard de Nantes, the conclusion of the applicant (and subsequently Cadw officers) regarding the setting of the Gorsedd Gardens section of Cathays Park is considered reasonable in that it would not harm the setting of the registered parkland.
“The relationship with the Civic Centre is considered to be positive representing the introduction of a high-quality building to this corner location. The introduction of a new usable public space in this important gateway location is also considered an enhancement.”
In response to complaints, the officer says that “affordability and adaptability of student accommodation is not a material planning matter” and is not a reason that refusal could be recommended.
It concludes the latest design changes result in a scheme which should be approved.
An amended application for 206 flats and one and two-bedroom flats in two buildings in Dumballs Road is also recommended for approval.
It would see an existing warehouse demolished and a plaza and walkway created.
The tallest building would be 12 storeys.
The flats along the Curran Road side would have balconies.
The developer would have to make considerable contributions towards schools, affordable housing and parks. Two objections were received. The buidling in Curran Road would be the biggest approved on Thursday.
Made up of between 21 and 25 storeys, it would include 140 flats, a shop and roof terrace for residents.
The highest element would be near to Penarth Road.
It would be covered in a combination of smooth cast-colour concrete panels, black and grey curtain walling, zinc cladding, glazing, timber screening and brickwork.
The report concludes that the scheme should be approved.
It states: “The amended proposals are considered to provide a highquality tall building south of the railway which will act as a landmark feature near the future regeneration of the Brains Brewery site and the wider Dumballs Road area.
“Being conveniently located close to Central Station and near Transport Interchange, the building maximises opportunities for travel by sustainable modes.”