Coal Exchange work to be examined by city council

CARDIFF council is examining whether the Coal Exchange developer is carrying out work without planning consent.

Cardiff ’s landmark Coal Exchange reopened in May as The Exchange Hotel after a huge and controversial project to redevelop the dilapidated building.

But developer Signature Living is still in the process of restoring parts of the listed building.

And Cardiff South and Penarth MP Stephen Doughty has claimed it has not followed the correct procedures.

The allegation surfaced after the firm applied to put a glass box on the top of the historic building to house additional facilities at the hotel.

Mr Doughty said: “Major work altering the external parts of this listed heritage building appears to be going on, it appears potentially without relevant planning consents, and that they do not appear to have been following the correct process for applying for consent in the first place.

“I have asked Cardiff council to investigate fully and to take appropriate action if any breaches are found.”

Cardiff council said the issue was complex and “a number of planning consents were in place”.

However, it said some work visible from the exterior “appears to go beyond the scope of existing consents”.

When asked about the issue, a spokesman for Signature Living said: “Work has not begun on the proposed extension at the Exchange Hotel.

“Work currently being carried out at the hotel is part of the ongoing, approved refurbishment of the Coal Exchange building.”