Central Square

Personally I would have preferred a public space outside the train station. I suppose we'll see how big the BBC development is and what room is left. I'd have thought they'd be plenty of room for the BBC, a new bus station and then do something about Wood St. Maybe the site was too attractive to investors to turn down?

A screening opinion request has gone in for 2 Central Square. No new drawings or D&A statement, but suggests that they are getting moving on it...

http://planning.cardiff.gov.uk/online-a ... APR_115339

One thing that has happened is an increase in size. Rather than 7 floors it will be 8 floors, with an incresae in gross square footage to circa 180,000 square feet. I'm not sure what that will mean in net lettable space - maybe something like 3/4 of that? Thats gotta be a good sign. Does it perhaps suggest a specific named tenant in mind?

I saw that and I thought exactly the same thing. I wonder who has a requirement for circa 140/150k sq feet? Legal and General were in the frame previously I think I recall. Too small for HMRC but maybe big enough for the govt dept allegedly relocating to Cardiff?

There is going to be a public square right? Certainly a lot bigger than the current pedestrianised area. But if you've spent money assembling a site, demolishing buildings, etc, you're not going to give over more to "public space" than you really need to. Its a bit like the debate over the park where Admiral HQ is now.

The expansion of Cardiff Central would impinge somewhat on the square, but there'd still be a decent amount of circulation space. It just won't be a large scale civic square.

Speaking of the Cardiff Central proposals, I hear there is already political rangling. The current UK governing party quite like their resurgence in Wales, and there is a bit of a divide between those that think such an investment would help cement that commitment to Wales, and those that think that it could backfire in the rest of Wales, and that more dispersed investment should be encouraged. Of course, its Network Rail that propose things - but politicians can suggest things, and ultimately sign off on things. Be interesting to see how this plays out...

I wonder how long the Vue cinema is for this world? Almost unnoticed the capital cinema has re-opened (as Premiere) offering cut-price tickets. Might help rejeuvenate the Capital a bit. Vue is a very strange place and I'd suspect Premiere is a bit nicer, has more of the old cinema feel to it. Demolishing it would certainly create a bit of space. Frankly that whole area of Wood St could do with something done to it.

Was Wood St included in the enterprise zone?

Yes Wood St was. And I don't think the "Stadium Plaza" is at any risk of being demolished. Its lower floors are well let at good rents. The upper cinema floors have been subject to several planning applications for conversion to office space I think. If Central Square takes off and fills up, I can see a major refurb of the upper floors, with access off Park Street for offices.

If it was up to me I'd knock the whole of Wood St down - up to Southgate House anyway and have a proper entrance to the stadium. Next best thing to a public space in front of the station anyway. I'm guessing money would be a problem though for potentially lucrative office space!

I wonder how long the Vue cinema is for this world? Almost unnoticed the capital cinema has re-opened (as Premiere) offering cut-price tickets. Might help rejeuvenate the Capital a bit. Vue is a very strange place and I'd suspect Premiere is a bit nicer, has more of the old cinema feel to it. Demolishing it would certainly create a bit of space. Frankly that whole area of Wood St could do with something done to it.

Was Wood St included in the enterprise zone?

Vue might be an odd building, but it's auditoriums are far far better (and larger), than Premiere. The latter is very poor from the seating down to the screen itself. It's difficult to see how things could have gone so wrong. However, since Premiere came to town, all the Cardiff cinemas have cut their prices except Odeon down the bay (and many people have commented on how empty that seems to be these days). Vue have matched Premiere's £4 price tag, so you get to go to a decent enough cinema for a reasonable price - if you use Meerkat Movies (Tuesdays or Wednesdays) it works out as two tickets for £4, which is cheaper than I can ever remember. It's a shame that Premiere is so poor, and as it's the cinema that's caused the others to cut their prices, I wish I could have supported it, but it really is just awful.

That's a shame. I'll have to check it out myself though. What was so terrible? I thought they had imported special chairs.

Bit short sighted if no one goes to Premiere - because its quite clear what the others are doing. Cutting their prices to match, and if their service quality is higher, hoping people will then not go to Premiere. So Premiere gets forced out of business and the incumbents can put their prices up again!

So hopefully some people are going to Premiere, as otherwise prices will be going back up in the city before long!!!

Thinking about it, that's the problem I have with giant multiplexes. If there is no competition and I'd say there isn't in many places, what's to keep the prices down? Obviously it's in competition with other leisure activities but only so far.

What exactly is so bad about it?