Councillors voice fears as student flats get approval

COUNCILLORS say they are “gutted” that a plan for new student accommodation in Cardiff has been approved.

The blocks, containing 137 student flats, can now be built at the junction of North Road and Maindy Road in Cathays.

JM Properties Management’s application will see existing buildings demolished.

Businesses had spoken out against the plans but the landowner said the existing buildings would have to be demolished within three years as they were no longer fit for purpose.

The new buildings will be up to six storeys high.

Ward councillors also objected to the development.

Cathays Labour councillor Norma Mackie said she and colleagues were struggling to understand claims that the buildings would not be overbearing. She said there were already parking problems in the area and expected further problems if the scheme was approved.

Neighbours will also be affected by noise, litter and extra taxis dropping students home, she added.

“The street now is populated by mostly families and the elderly. There’s not many student houses in that part of the street. The development is completely out of character for the area and I would ask you to reject it,” she said.

Fellow councillor Chris Weaver listed a number of reasons why the scheme should have been rejected, including flouting the council’s own planning guidance.

But a planning officer said in response that the guidance “is not set in stone”.

“It has to be interpreted in terms of the site,” the committee was told.

There were worries that peoples’ privacy would be affected, but the plans exceeded the rules on distance between the new and existing development.

There were also 26 letters of objections sent to the committee. Concerns included the loss of local businesses, safety, and the size of the scheme.

Lib Dem councillor Asghar Ali said: “I wonder whether all the students will be able to walk on the pavements on North Road because there are so many.”

But he was told the scheme had to be decided on its merit, not how many similar schemes there were.

Labour councillor Ali Ahmed said: “We want to see a community back in Cathays. This is possibly the only part of Cathays that has 80% or 90% of families or elderly people living in that area. This is a residential area only at the moment.”

Conservative Mike Jones-Pritchard said the scheme made good use of a corner plot of land and said he could think of no reason why it should be turned down. The scheme was approved. After the meeting, Cllr Mackie tweeted: “We tried our best at the planning meeting this afternoon but to no avail. The inappropriate student accommodation has been agreed for Maindy Road. Gutted and feel for the residents.”

Plans for affordable homes to be built at De Clare Drive in Radyr were also approved.