ANGER OVER FLATS PLAN FOR PUB
DEVELOPERS want to demolish a historic Cardiff pub to build more apartments.
Plans have been submitted to knock down the former Roath Park pub on City Road and build a block of flats.
The applicant said the pub is “one of several deemed surplus to requirements in the light of reduced demand” and has been sold.
Their plans would see the former pub demolished and replaced with a mixed-use development, with flats on the upper floors and commercial space on the ground floor.
Residents have said the area already has enough similar developments and the leader of Cardiff has criticised the plans.
On Twitter Cardiff Council leader Huw Thomas said it “would be a real shame to lose a historic pub” and said “hopefully” the planning committee will reject the plans.
Dozens of residents have also formally submitted objections to the plans.
One of the almost 50 comments said:
“This pub is invaluable to Roath in its community and aesthetic value.
“The building is one of the only remaining old establishments on [City Road] that gives Roath, and Cardiff as a whole, its character.
“The demolition of this building and its replacement with this selfish project would be extremely unsightly, in addition to having no viable parking without majorly disadvantaging the existing inhabitants of the area.”
The planning application states no additional parking will be added alongside the block of flats.
One objection said: “Destruction of this beautiful Victorian building on City Road would be a terrible thing to do.
“This area has already suffered from years of neglect and decline, and should be being supported and revived rather than inflicted with further damage.
“Clearly during the present crisis a pub isn’t viable, and it hasn’t done well in recent years.
“But once the pandemic is over there is a brilliant opportunity here to revive a beautiful and historic pub in a highdensity area which has very few traditional pubs of this type.”
Another Cardiff resident said: “Aren’t there enough new flat-pack student apartment builds waiting for repurposing on City Road already, without demolishing what little Victoriana remains?”
Planning documents were submitted to the council on September 30 by Horizon Properties, a letting agent focused on students and young professionals.
The plans will now be considered by the council’s planning committee at an unscheduled date.