Central Square

While the new buildings are a bit hit-and-miss (Number One: great, BBC: OK, growing on me, Number Two: er...it's a number two...), the new public space outside the station is absolutely terrific. It should all look fantastic when St. David's House is demolished and the new square on the other side of Wood Street completed.

I like all three of the buildings at central. Can’t see why not once Tesco moves that they can start demolition proceedings with st. David’s and with this gone they can finish off the public realm around the area including the roads etc.

Well Number 2 looks great to me.

Well Number 2 looks great to me.

Ground floor almost entirely blank steel walls and air vents, virtually no interaction with the outside space.

A crushing disappointment from Foster & Partners

While the new buildings are a bit hit-and-miss (Number One: great, BBC: OK, growing on me, Number Two: er...it's a number two...), the new public space outside the station is absolutely terrific. It should all look fantastic when St. David's House is demolished and the new square on the other side of Wood Street completed.

I'm not local so I've not been down there to see it myself, so I may be wrong, but going off the Flickr photos, the public space outside the station looks quite barren? Just a big stone slab with a handful of small trees and benches on the one side of the BBC and some new lighting. All looks very cold and windswept and soulless to me. I'm assuming it's been designed flat and bare because of match day crowds, but to me, the public realm is the part I'm quite disappointed by.

Not sure why, but the development reminds me of the More London development, I used to pass most days and their public realm was fantastic, lots of green and seating and different paths, almost made it like a park, wish they'd copied it a little bit.

It is a fairly large area so perhaps a little bleak, but will it feel a bit different when BBC up and running and bus station operational (mind you 'under construction' would be a start!!)

There is a special planning committee meeting on Wednesday to approve the application for the bus station from the ground floor up
Although this hasn't been required for work to begin, I'm hoping that during a session only dedicated to this development, someone will have the sense to ask 'when do they actually start building this?'

There is a special planning committee meeting on Wednesday to approve the application for the bus station from the ground floor up
Although this hasn't been required for work to begin, I'm hoping that during a session only dedicated to this development, someone will have the sense to ask 'when do they actually start building this?'

Oh well at least it'll be in the spotlight and we just might have more of an indication of what's happening?

So, as was being reported in the media the development has been approved! One councillor seemed to have many objections about the affect the tower would have on the area - strong opinions, mind you as someone who felt so strongly and with obviously a great knowledge of the area (not) it threw me when she mentioned that she wasn't really sure where Saunders Rd was!! Fortunately a lot of her issues seemed to be humoured, addressed and dismissed!! So what next I wonder? will we see an immediate impact on the site - contractor announced - visuals on hoardings etc. Just maybe, now we will!

I'm surprised by the reduced number of cycle spaces, palming it off to Network Rail isn't going to encourage use. I still don't understand the parking needs for the BBC staff. And I still don't think there is enough bay's to accommodate the city (and proposed Metro!).

I do however like the proposed visual. I very much doubt we will see any activity until Spring 2019.