Car park plan for cinema site
AN iconic empty cinema on City Road in Cardiff could soon be knocked down and turned into a car park.
Developers have asked for permission to demolish the Gaiety cinema and build a 39-space car park.
The Gaiety cinema first opened in 1912, before later becoming a bingo hall and then a bowling alley.
Now developer, Bonnes Mares, has applied for planning permission from Cardiff Council for a temporary car park on the site. However, it did not explain how long “temporary” would mean.
The site already has planning permission for the cinema to be demolished and for a block of student flats.
Architects for Bonnes Mares said the car park was needed to “facilitate the delivery” of the student flats.
In planning documents, the architects said: “In order to facilitate the demolition of the existing building and delivery of the permitted purposebuilt student accommodation, full planning permission is sought for redevelopment of the site to provide surface level car parking for a temporary period.
“The site offers many opportunities to access local facilities by walking, cycling and public transport. Its location is well suited to provide a temporary car park, given the proximity of retail and employment opportunities located along City Road.
“The proposed temporary car park will reduce the risk of on road nuisance parking, safely increasing the level of footfall of customers for local retail and commercial facilities.
“It provides a net benefit to existing and adjacent land uses, by encouraging safe driving practices and economic activity.”
People interested in supporting or objecting to the application can write to the council during the public consultation on the plans, which ends on November 19.
Since the bowling alley closed in 2006, the building has been left empty and growing derelict. In 2012, a group of anarchist squatters occupied the building.
City Road has seen several new blocks of student flats built in recent years, and old buildings knocked down to make way for the apartment buildings.
One pub, the Poet’s Corner was knocked down in 2016 and the site has been left empty since.
Earlier in October, plans were submitted to also knock down the Roath Park pub to make way for new flats.