John Street - Callaghan Square

This is an interesting one

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/100m-regeneration-scheme-plans-key-10004331

J R Smart have acquired the land between Callaghan Square and Capital Quarter, where No Fit State and WNO currently have premises.

Their plans seem to be for around 250,000 sq foot of mixed use development including offices, hotel and residential.

I know companies often acquire land to get in there before competitors but I'm curious about their plans when they are saying (at least for now) that they intend commencement on site sometime next year or early 2017. This is while they are yet to begin their 23 floor apartment scheme at Herbert Street or have even announced what's going on with the majority of phase 2 of Capital Quarter.

It makes me wonder if we are about to hear some positive letting news about Number 2 Capital Quarter and some news about phase 2, which was meant to have some more mid-rise buildings.

that is interesting, and I think most of us would see as essential if we are going to have a cohesive city centre feel on both sides of the railway line axes (north/south and east/west). This also caught my eye

It is also understood that the open space, which currently includes a number of fountains between the north side of Callaghan Square and the yet to be developed south side, could be redesigned so providing more development opportunities.

I've been suggesting this for years. At present CSQ is windswept and open. If part of it was sold office for office development with just the west end (roundabout end) remaining, then this would enhance the square. i am thinking along the lines of the Piccadilly Square development in M/cr

Yes that bit was also really interesting.

There's room for a relatively large number of buildings if you include the land they've purchased, the Callaghan Square south plots and Callaghan Square 'stupid bit in the middle'.

The fact that they've named the scheme 'John Street - Callaghan Square' is also a little telling. It's as if they are working with someone else, or as part of a masterplan which will hopefully include a reconfiguration of Callaghan Square.

Only time will tell but there seems to be some real momentum in the city centre at the moment, at least at the planning/proposal stage.

Even when Wales Online write something interesting - they still get things wrong!

WNO moved from that site when the WMC opened a decade ago! FFS, their old building was used as a temporary library while SD2 was built - and how long ago is that?

No Fit State departed the site a good two years ago for their new place in Roath.

I thought that but I think No Fit State have still been using the site as well as the place in Roath. This 'letter to the community' blog entry link below seems to imply that anyway.

http://www.nofitstate.org/blog/jodie/letter-community

I only found it as I did a search to see if I could find anything other than the Walesonline article.

The only other thing I found was this on the WG website related to their sale of the land to J R Smart

http://gov.wales/newsroom/businessandeconomy/2015/150907-cardiff-central-ez/?lang=en

Looking forward to seeing more info on this one - that's a pretty big patch of land and I've been waiting for something to happen there. Given the timescale mentioned, presumably we may no more reasonably soon. JR Smart are certainly making a big impact on the city centre - hoping for something a bit special! Any 'inside info' very welcome on this forum!!

Given the site's location this really should be a go big or go home type of development. Anything under 100m tall and i'll be dissappointed!

They are certainly building towards some height with their development across the road. They've got a 23 floor apartment bulding going up at Tudor Street and planning permission for something similar-ish I think across the feeder canal at the western most phase 2 plot at Callaghan Square. There's room for 2 or 3 buildings on this John street plot so wouldn't it be nice if there was maybe a 25 floor building on the eastern side and then two other buildings going up at 30 and then maybe 35 floors?

Would be good to see some plans, I guess they might not be released until early next year at best.

They are certainly building towards some height with their development across the road. They've got a 23 floor apartment bulding going up at Tudor Street and planning permission for something similar-ish I think across the feeder canal at the western most phase 2 plot at Callaghan Square. There's room for 2 or 3 buildings on this John street plot so wouldn't it be nice if there was maybe a 25 floor building on the eastern side and then two other buildings going up at 30 and then maybe 35 floors?

Would be good to see some plans, I guess they might not be released until early next year at best.

Yes that would be nice! and with 'hope tower' (if it happens) just the other side of the track!! oh well I guess we'll have to wait and see on all of this. I wonder, given the impact JR Smart is having on the city if they have an ambition for a 'tallest in Wales' type structure at this location - which would perhaps be the perfect location for such a building. Viewing platform/restaurant on 45th floor with views to severn bridges to the east, Brecon beacons to the North, the Bay/England to the South and ummm Cardiff city stadium! to the west!!

Yes, lets sell off the land with the fountains, as we all know roundabouts with offices blocks on them are a huge success.