Plans to demolish restaurant to build flats are withdrawn

A PLANNING application which could have led to the demolition of one of Cardiff’s most popular restaurants has been withdrawn.

Councillors were due to hear an application for the building which contains Shaam Nights at 116 to 118 City Road to be demolished.

It would have then been replaced with student accommodation under plans from applicant Piazza Estate Ltd.

After the plans became public the restaurant owners spoke out and said they had up to 14 years of their lease remaining and would not be forced out.

But at a meeting of Cardiff council’s planning committee on Thursday councillors were told the application had been withdrawn.

However, it is understood the application could be resubmitted at a later date.

Applicants can withdraw applications for a number of reasons. It is often if an applicant has been made aware of something which would mean the application is likely to be rejected on planning grounds and they want time to readdress it. It can also be because of a change of plans.

Shaam Nights regularly appears in the top 10 of Cardiff’s best restaurants and has a rating of 4.5 out of five on TripAdvisor. It serves Mediterranean food in a distinctive, lantern-clad room.

Piazza Estate Ltd had asked for permission to knock down the existing building and replace it with student accommodation. Planning officers said councillors should approve the plans which, were for a three to five-storey building and included six so-called “cluster” flats with communal hubs.

There would also have been a ground floor foyer, gym and cycle spaces.

They asked for a contribution of £35,000 from the developer to pay for a better pedestrian crossing and to make the nearby area 20mph.

The architect said it would create a “landmark building”.

No formal objections received to the plans.

Shaam Nights has approached for comment. were been