Work restarts on 20-storey city centre hotel

WORK has finally restarted on a huge 20-storey hotel in Cardiff city centre following the appointment of a new contractor.

Custom House – a Grade-II listed building erected in the mid-1800s is being transformed into a Premier Inn with 248 bedrooms.

At the end of last year there were questions about the progress of the hotel after a public notice was put on the doors stating that the project was currently closed.

The halt in the development came after its principal contractor, WRW Construction, based in Llanelli, collapsed in July last year after coming under “significant financial stress”.

Planning permission had been granted by Cardiff council in 2017 for the construction as well as demolition of the York Hotel and most of the empty Custom House.

A spokesman for Whitbread, which owns Premier Inn, confirmed that work had recommenced on the hotel, which is being developed by Ascent.

“Our development partners have appointed a replacement principal contractor from Cardiff – Carter Lauren – to deliver the hotel.

“At this stage it is a little too early to confirm the completion date but we hope the new Premier Inn will be open by Christmas next year, all being well.”