Protection plans for unchanged city street
IN THE last few decades Cardiff city centre has undergone huge changes.
From the vast redevelopment around central station to the numerous high rise towers and student blocks beginning to dominate the city’s skyline, the city is unrecognisable.
But one small corner of the city has remained largely unchanged since the mid 19th century – and it could now be on the road to having its heritage protected.
Guildford Crescent has some of the oldest buildings in the city, from the Masonic Hall to the home of popular and brightly coloured bar Gwdihw.
As you stand on the small crescent, it’s clear to see how the rest of the city has developed around it.
Just across the way on Churchill Way is one of the city’s tallest buildings, nearby an already crowded and towering Churchill Way.
It’s a similar situation across the city, changing by the day, with very little of Cardiff left that hasn’t been redeveloped since the 1950s.
Now Cardiff council is consulting on a proposal to make Guildford Crescent a conservation area.
If made into a conservation area by the council, they would add extra controls over demolition, minor alterations or development and the protection of trees.
Early Ordinance Survey maps show that the site was undeveloped in 1851, although streets to the west of the dock feeder and the prison to the east of the railway were.
The period from 1850 saw a massive growth in the iron and coal trade which led to the development of the railway connecting the South Wales coalfield to the newly developed Cardiff docks.
A tenfold population increase between 1851 and 1911 transformed Cardiff from a town of 18,000 to a city of 180,000. Most of inner Cardiff was developed in this period.
By 1880 the area was fully developed, but by 1901 very little remained of the south-east part of the city centre.
Decades later, the road is the only remaining historic part of the inner city centre which doesn’t have the protection through the planning system.
The 15 buildings on the crescent were built between 1851 and 1880.
The council says they are significant as they show the traditional low rise terraces which originally made up most of the southern city centre before it was redeveloped from the 1960s.
By making it a conservation area, the council aims to preserve the area’s special architectural and historic interest.
Chris Amodeo, Echo columnist and the brains behind popular Cardiff brand I Loves The ’Diff, said: “If we don’t it’ll vanish under student blocks of steel and glass.”
A consultation process is under way and ends on November 28.
An eight-week exhibition at the Cardiff Story Museum on the Hayes is on display and a drop in session will be held on October 22 between 10am and noon.
Council cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, Councillor Caro Wild said: “As the city continues to grow, it is important to preserve the city’s heritage. We hope the public give their views by attending the drop in sessions and by visiting our website to send us their comments.”
A council document says that the area could be improved by “resisting inappropriate development or alterations” in the area.
Better pedestrian and cycling links could be added alongside more landscaping.