Splott university building

The building is currently being demolished to create 1-2 bedroom flats, it's a shame another good looking old building is gone!!! I m all for redeveloping but not at the cost of these lovely building just to be replaced by another square block with white washed render the will turn green in about a years time ;(

The structure of the building was a bit of a mess as was the state of the interior. There were structural cracks in the walls and I think there was asbestos int he back buildings also. Fascinating to walk around in a 'frozen in time' sort of way . I wonder what has happenned to some of the amazing old photogrpahy/printing machines in there - they looked straight out of some mad sci-fi film.

The structure of the building was a bit of a mess as was the state of the interior. There were structural cracks in the walls and I think there was asbestos int he back buildings also.

There are very, very few old buildings these days which don't have some structural cracking and/or asbestos! As a structural engineer I deal with old buildings all the time, each of them have various different problems. Defects can usually be fixed in some way and asbestos can be either removed or managed. Ultimately, it's down to cost and effort and whether or not the developer sees value in keeping them, or is forced to by planners. Damage or deterioration can be an excuse to demolish buildings to overcome the latter. Don't believe that this happens? See the arguments surround Battersea Powerstation!

Believe it or not, but I recently read a structural engineer's report, from a "world renowned" engineering firm, regarding the condition of a 1960's reinforced concrete building. Their conclusion was that as the building had reached its 50-year design lifetime, it should be demolished, despite there being no serious signs of deterioration. I'm deadly serious here!

The failing with the Splott University Building, in my opinion, was not having the building listed. I don't understand how you can have a building which was one of the first of its kind in Wales that stilled survived, backed by the Victorian Society, yet CADW refused to see its significance. This decision was apparentely peer reviewed by Historic Scotland.

Sadly, Cardiff Council had no grounds to refuse demolition.

The failing with the Splott University Building, in my opinion, was not having the building listed. I don't understand how you can have a building which was one of the first of its kind in Wales that stilled survived, backed by the Victorian Society, yet CADW refused to see its significance. This decision was apparentely peer reviewed by Historic Scotland. Sadly, Cardiff Council had no grounds to refuse demolition.

Doesn't the council have an option to give a building a 'local listing' if it so chooses? One can't help feeling that had this building been in a wealthier part of the city the decision might have been different. On the other hand had the building been elsewhere there probably would have been a commercially viable development option that didn't involve total demolition.

Doesn't the council have an option to give a building a 'local listing' if it so chooses? One can't help feeling that had this building been in a wealthier part of the city the decision might have been different. On the other hand had the building been elsewhere there probably would have been a commercially viable development option that didn't involve total demolition.

You'd think they have some power! But I'm always amazed with the conservation officers in Cardiff as to what they want to keep and what they'll allow to be demolished. There doesn't seem to be much sense about their decision making.

I've been forced to design buildings around some utter sh*t, with no character or historic significance (to my mind) and yet other much-nicer buildings are frequently demolished.