General Developments

As someone who doesn't often come down the Eastern Bay link into town, I was struck today how different it looked. What with Admiral and Capital Quarter and the new student stuff it's worth thinking that the last few years have not been entirely inactive. The only concern would be that we might now be heading for another prolonged downturn in the economy and therefore construction.

The surface car park next to the big multistory in the bay has some machinery digging holes in it today. Is the purported office building starting development?

Extra fencing going up around the no fit state circus site too.

I doubt they are starting building down at Cardiff Waterside. Thems are big sites - I think the minimum size requirement they would build for would be about 50,000 square feet. I'm not sure there are any of that size that would be considering the bay at the moment.

About the only way I can see the rest of Capital Waterside coming to fruition is if one or more of the following happens:
1) The council sell county hall and build a new HQ there (quite unlikely)
2) The WG are able to sell their Cathays Park offices to the University, and build new offices there (more likely, but still unlikely)
3) We get a large occupier who cares most about a 'nice' location as opposed to be a particularly convenient one for transport.

I think theres actually more of a risk of further voids in the estate. Quite a few of the occupiers are in the financial services industry and the area is outside the Enterprise Zone. I think as leases come up for renewal, if there is space in that zone, some of the occupiers may move.

If I were Aviva, I would be trying to think of ways to diversy my risk - bringing in a hotel, or residential, or something else.

Demolition underway of the remaining buildings on the Nofit State Circus site.

Demolition underway of the remaining buildings on the Nofit State Circus site.

It's about time we saw what the plans are for this site actually isn't it ? It can't be far off if they are getting on with demolition.

The little surface car park on St Andrew's Lane is now fenced off. More student flats on the way

The redevelopment of The Gower in Cathays has been turned down based on poor design (I assume these aren't the same councillors who approved Ty Pont Haearn!);

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/plans-turn-historic-cardiff-pub-11017458

I agree, it looks like an 1990's business park office development. There should be some architectural detail to try and fit in with the area. They'll probably win on appeal though

I'm not so sure about this.

The pub is probably no longer viable - theres quite a lot of drinking holes in the area, and the demographic has changed.

The question is then one of whether the building could be converted for viable use. Probably, but I imagine that such a development would compare poorly to a demolition and new build with a better layout and a slightly bigger scale.

If we accept that such a demo/new-build job is legitimate (which I think one would have to as there is no listing for the building) there is then the question of appropriate scale and design.

One option would be to try to have a development that reflects the local architecture - perhaps 3 story, pitched roof, something which kind of mimics terraced housing, but with apartments. If not done properly though this could look like a bit of a pastiche, and the attic space could end up 'wasted' (making it less viable).

The developers have gone for something relatively 'modern' - although not that striking. I would actually favour making it more modern so that even if it doesn't match, it at least makes an interesting modern statement.

It's the height and bulk of the proposal that the problem. They've taken the highest part of the pitched roof of the old building and then proposed a flat roofed building of similar height throughout. You only have to look at the scale of the cars in the two pictures to see how tall the new building is compared to the existing pub.

It's an attempt to maximize the number of apartments and is totally out of scale with its surroundings. I'm with the planning committee for once - it's a greedy developer trying to pull a fast one.

There is an application in for the former Burger King on the corner of Guildhall and Westgate Street. The proposal is to create a roof terrace, some external works (new windows, some wood cladding etc) and then simplify the internal layout. They want to keep the A3 usage and are seeking a premises license.

It might just be the landlord seeking to make the unit more marketable or perhaps it's the East London craft brewer that is looking for premises in Cardiff as reported by the WM a couple of weeks ago?