General Developments

There is an application in for John Street for construction of offices in a configuration of 20, 10 and 8 stories. The link is here -

http://planning.cardiff.gov.uk/online-a ... APR_116841

JR Smart are the developers. Could this be the HMRC building?

The design looks quite good although it's dificult to tell what the materials will be from the renders. The proposed building along Bute Street will enclose Callaghan Square a bit and make it feel less windswept and more like an actual square. The 20 storey building appears to be taller than Altulosso and the Radisson. Apparently there will also be commercial uses on the ground floors.

I like it! I also like how they're including a redevelopment of the railway arches. It does seem taller than I was expecting too...

It's interesting that Hope Street Tower is mentioned quite a bit in the documents. Hopefully it does come through, because once John Street, Herbert Street, and Capital Quarter are finished, Hope Street should top off quite an impressive cluster!

There is an application in for John Street for construction of offices in a configuration of 20, 10 and 8 stories. The link is here -

http://planning.cardiff.gov.uk/online-a ... APR_116841

JR Smart are the developers. Could this be the HMRC building?

The design looks quite good although it's dificult to tell what the materials will be from the renders. The proposed building along Bute Street will enclose Callaghan Square a bit and make it feel less windswept and more like an actual square. The 20 storey building appears to be taller than Altulosso and the Radisson. Apparently there will also be commercial uses on the ground floors.

Nice one Karl - you were the first on this one, that I for one have been waiting for. After a very quick look one would imagine that this has to be specifically for HMRC - presumably that means they'll be cracking on with it reasonably soon? - if approved. Callaghan square has just become pretty bulky! Again after just a quick look it appears that the tower is 22 storeys with a height of 86.25metres - so that's 20 footish higher than capital tower. At first glance I'm pretty pleased with this but it's also made me want hope st to be built even more!!! Still that train journey arrival to Cardiff is potentially looking quite exciting for a UK city. Looking forward to having a good look at this later.

You'd like to think this was for HMRC wouldn't you? I can't imagine why else they would propose such a big build.

It would be good to see if they'll announce something soon in the press about HMRC, and this government hub to link to this.

Of course, if this is the location of the HMRC site it then leads me on to wonder what will
happen to the commercial space at the Interchange building at Central Square.

As for the design, it's alright. Reminds me of a cross between Callaghan Square, the Admiral
Building and Capital Tower.

With the addition of Herbert St Apartments and Cap Qtr Hotel we really will have a nice little high rise area in our city centre - and if hope tower comes to fruition!!

Channel View flats are to have an external refurbishment -

http://planning.cardiff.gov.uk/online-a ... APR_116866

Like having a new mid rise and will certainly improve the view from Penarth.

There is a further application for a new build in Caroline Street. This is the site that has been empty for at least the last 25 years following a very dodgy fire.

The previous application was for something very much in keeping with the existing buildings. This new application is for a more contemporary 5 storey building with A3 on the ground and first floor and 4 flats above. It's here -

http://planning.cardiff.gov.uk/online-a ... 804863.pdf

I think I would prefer the traditional approach to be honest. Although the Brewery Quarter is a modern intervention into the streetscape I think this proposed new build would look incongruous on the other side of the street.

In other Caroline Street news (thats Caroline Street and NOT Chippy Lane/Alley - please take note students and Valleyites) the Corner House (previously the Kings Cross) has had a nice paint job.

Untitled-1 by Stephen Anstiss, on Flickr

Looks like I was right in that you don't spend £100M on a city-centre scheme without building a tower! Shame I'm not designing the structure!

OK, I'd prefer some sort of stone or RC cladding for those vertical elements, but other than that, I'm really pleased with this scheme. The quality is clearly higher than the other buildings on Capital Quarter and it's telling that JR Smart have used a London-based architect who are used to doing substantial schemes like this one.

I think the use of the arches in the railway viaduct is fantastic and those sort of spaces are used to great effect in London! The proposed public and retail spaces on the ground level will bring a lot of buzz to this area, which currently feels dead! I love the planted roof-top terraces too.

Cardiff needs more height and definately more mid-to-high-rise office space and I hope other vacant plots will follow with similar schemes. It's time Cardiff looked more like a grown-up city!

Nice development, I like the way it looks next to the Hope Street tower, I really hope both come off. I too like the arches being used and will drag town south a bit.

Is there still the idea for 17 storey apartment block next to this one? Think that would be positive.