Council says little can be done controversial bid for 35-storey
CONTROVERSIAL plans for Wales’ tallest building in the heart of Cardiff have been called “misguided and dreadful” as the council leader admitted there is little they can do.
Details of the huge 35-storey tower were unveiled on Monday and would see Harlech Court, on Bute Terrace, demolished.
Although in its early stages, the plans have already sparked opposition, with residents calling for the council to step in and one seeing it as another example of “big developers who add nothing to the city”.
If the plans go ahead the building, which is home to popular pub and music venue Porter’s in Cardiff city centre, could be knocked down to make way for the block.
It comes after plans were recently revealed to build a 29-storey block on the nearby site of another popular music venue and bar Gwdihw which was recently demolished, along with two restaurants on Guildford Crescent.
Developers want to demolish Harlech Court to build what would become the tallest building in Wales.
The Draycott Group bought the building in May 2018 and is now planning to knock it down and build 350 apartments on the site, according to the group’s website.
Tenants rights activist Harriet Protheroe Soltani was one of a number of residents against the plans.
She said: “It’s really sad to see a cultural venue like Porter’s shut shop, in favour of big developers.
“As the sister of a musician, I know how important these medium-size venues are for musicians trying to break through in the industry.”
In a lengthy Twitter thread on
Tuesday, Cardiff council leader Huw Thomas said the authority has offered help to Porter’s, the plans are only “proposed” and that the council has “limited” powers to intervene.
Harriet added: “What is the city for? And who has power over the city? If as Cardiff council leader [Huw Thomas] claims, that the council can do very little about this, then who can? Is our city just a plaything for greedy developers who don’t live in the city, but see it as a venture to make capital?
“How do Cardiffians have a say over their city? If it’s not via their elected representatives in the local council, then who is it through?”
Porter’s is also home to The Other Room, a popular theatre where dozens of shows have been performed over the years.
Writer Kate McCormack, who was on The Other Room’s Emerging Writers programme, said: “The plans feel very typical of the way that both Cardiff and Swansea see their futures.
“Can’t help feeling that it will make them both more anonymous and less engaging. Tower blocks are so misguided – surely history has proved that they are a dreadful idea?
“Today’s luxury apartments are tomorrow’s unmanageable slums. The creative industry is one of the things that makes Cardiff unique and vibrant – you can’t buy or build atmosphere and The Other Room and Porter’s contribute so significantly to that.”
Porter’s said its lease runs out in October next year and is calling for help to find a new venue. As well as live music, Porter’s also regularly put on theatre and comedy nights before the coronavirus pandemic.
According to its Facebook page, its lease at Harlech Court runs out in October next year.
The pub called for help from Cardiff council in finding a new building and said Draycott had been a “decent and supportive” landlord.
Cllr Thomas said he has been in touch with Porter’s to offer the council’s help to work with them to find a new permanent home.
He said council officers have also met with The Other Room to offer the same support.
Writing on Twitter, Cllr Thomas said: “First, to say at the outset no one wants to see Porter’s and The Other Room theatre closed, certainly not me. Independent venues like these are part of what makes Cardiff what it is.”
He said: “To be clear, what is happening here is a private landlord looking to develop their own land, and giving their tenants notice at the end of their lease in 2022. The council has nothing to do with any of this. I understand Porter’s have a good relationship with the landlord.
“In terms of the proposed development, at the moment it’s just that – proposed. There isn’t even a planning application in yet; the first stage would be a pre-application consultation, which I presume the landlord plans to commence shortly.
“After that, the full planning application would be considered by the planning committee – a cross-party group of elected councillors who must take decisions on a quasi-judicial basis, factoring in national planning law and local planning policy.
“To the question of why are highrise developments being proposed in the city centre, the simple answer is that Cardiff is a growing city with a high demand for housing (and record high house prices).
“In the past, former council administrations have actually tried to concentrate residential development in Cardiff just to high-rise blocks in the city centre and Bay, with no development on the edge of the city.
“In contrast, the Local Development Plan set by the last Labour administration in 2016 strikes a balance between developing the city centre, and developing on the periphery (i.e. avoiding an even higher level of density/high rise construction in the centre).
“That LDP makes clear though that we want the vitality, attractiveness and viability of the city centre as a cultural
destination to be maintained and enhanced. Work on a replacement LDP is about to get under way so everyone will have a chance to shape the future vision for Cardiff.”
The plans are also at odds with Cardiff being designated a “Music City”, according to critics of the proposed tower block.
In 2017 Cardiff was officially declared a Music City – the first of its kind in the UK.
It was reported that the aim was to develop policies that treat music as infrastructure and deliver a healthy music ecosystem, which will create vibrant communities, build an international profile and increase the value of music in the city.
A Cardiff Music Board was set up in 2019 by the council, with 22 experts from across the music industry, to champion the city’s music scene, promote grassroots music and help communication across the sector.
Cllr Thomas addressed those complaints in his Twitter thread, adding: “Finally, on our Music Strategy, we established a Music Board in late 2019 – one of the key recommendations of the strategy.
“It’s been meeting throughout the pandemic, and is focused on the sector’s recovery, but is also already having an impact on planning applications.
“For example, in the number of planning conditions (such as sound-proofing) imposed on the development next to the Flute and Tankard, as a direct result of objections submitted by the Cardiff Music Board.
“So to sum up, the council has limited intervention powers in commercial cases like this, but the offer has been made to assist Porter’s to relocate, because as far as I’m concerned, we want more, not fewer venues like this in Cardiff.”
The Draycott Group is also behind several recent developments in Cardiff, including luxury townhouses The Rise in Pontcanna; student flats City Heights on City Road; and student accommodation Cyprian House in Cathays.
On Monday, Draycott declined to comment. The website for the Draycott Group states: “Draycott has engaged the services of consultants to submit a full planning application for the demolition and redevelopment of the office block into a 350 apartment Build-toRent scheme.
“The construction of the 35-storey tower will make it Wales’ tallest building.”
Currently, the tallest building in Wales is the Meridian Tower in Swansea, with 29 storeys.
A COCKAPOO puppy was left fighting for its life after a “savage attack” by a large dog – and has left its owner with an £11,000 vet bill.
Sharon Mahoney said she was out walking Bailey in Brithdir, New Tredegar, when another dog ran out from a property and “grabbed” her pup in its mouth.
The 51-year-old added she looked on in horror as the cross-breed then pinned Bailey against a car as the mauling continued.
She said: “The sounds were absolutely terrible and I just didn’t know what to do.
“I was still holding Bailey by the leash but I feared if I stepped in then the dog would do the same thing to me.
“I was just hysterical, and when the owner eventually got the dog off Bailey we knew we had to get him to the vet straight away.”
With injuries that included a bilateral fracture on both sides of his jaw Bailey was rushed to vets in both Blackwood and Newport before he underwent a series of scans and facial surgeries.
However, Sharon said her pup is still very poorly as he needs further treatment.
“I’ve always loved dogs so seeing an attack like this really shook me up,” she added.
“My 10-year-old is also devastated by what happened, and while Bailey is at home recovering now he is still poorly.
“He’s not out of the woods yet and with ongoing treatment required we will have to see how his jaw and teeth heal as he grows.
“We’re hoping for the best and, despite the large costs reaching almost £11,000 at this point, we are determined to get him better.”
Sharon described the other dog as a large cross-breed and said the alleged incident happened on February 16.
She said she has since reported the matter to Gwent Police.
A Gwent Police spokesman said: “We received a report of a dog attack in Brithdir, at around 8.05pm on Tuesday, February 16.
“The caller was walking their dog on the road at around 5.15pm when a dog, reportedly off its lead, bit the caller’s dog to its face.
“The caller’s dog required veterinary surgery after damage was caused to its jaw.
“Anyone with information, or has CCTV or dashcam footage, about this incident is asked to call Gwent Police on 101, quoting log 2100055868.
“You can also contact us via social media on Facebook and Twitter or you can report any information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”