Billionaire’s old school now facing demolition

AN APPLICATION to demolish a former high school in Cardiff, which counts the world’s richest Welshman as a former pupil, has been put forward.

Howardian High School, which has been closed for more than 25 years, was where billionaire businessman Sir Michael Moritz received his secondary education.

But what is now known as the Howardian Centre on Hammond Way in Cardiff could be demolished in July next year, according to a planning application submitted to Cardiff council.

Part of the centre is currently being used for some primary school classes and adult learning classes.

It is understood homes would be built on the site when it is cleared.

A new school is being built on the same site, having been given approval in February this year.

That school is due to open in June, with the demolition of the neighbouring building set to begin the following month.

The school will be a two-storey primary school and nursery, and will be a twoform entry English language school.

Under the plans, there would be two reception classes, nursery and two classes on the ground floor with eight classes above. It would have spaces for 420 pupils, 48 nursery pupils as well as 20 teachers, 16 teaching assistants and 14 other staff.

The site was most recently an unused car park and grass play area.

A previous building has already been removed.

At the time of its approval, ward councillor Joe Boyle said he hoped that the new scheme would incorporate solutions to long-held concerns about traffic and parking.

The previous school on the site counts the likes of Sir Michael Moritz and conductor Owain Arwel Hughes as alumni.

Cardiff-born venture capitalist Sir Michael made his fortune from a series of shrewd investments in technology and social media companies.

He was an early backer of Google, seeing his firm Sequoia Capital’s £8m investment grow to a peak of £6.3bn.

He and his wife, American author Harriet Heyman, now enjoy an estimated shared wealth of £2.629bn, topping the latest edition of the Sunday Times Rich List.