A huge Cardiff house that has been a derelict for years is about to see a major refurbishment. 97 Romilly Crescent and 106 Llandaff Road in Pontcanna is well-known for the wrong reasons to passersby with security CCTV warnings plastered across the rusty fence surrounding the eerie property.
But the house, now to be known as The Cedars, is to undergo a complete refurbishment with the council keen to get the dilapidated building back into residential use. Council documents show the house will be transformed into an impressive pad once finished. Extensive proposals for the three-storey house include three studies, a gym, a pantry and drawing room.
The plans have drawn many objections including from the Cardiff Civic Society who criticised the proposals, now approved, which included the destruction of the trees at the site save for the one that remains. Even First Minister Mark Drakeford waded in with a letter sent to the council’s planning committee saying he was “concerned” by the tree plan.
Read more: The stunning apartment with stained glass windows inside a church in Penarth
Council officers told objectors that as part of the plans better quality trees will be replanted, but locals hit back saying the owner wanted to cut the trees down for parking their cars. Despite the anger the trees were chopped down in February, revealing the property which has been hidden by the large trees for years.
On the ground floor will be a study, a snug, hall, laundry, boot room, toilette, kitchen, scullery, pantry and drawing room. On the first floor will be two studies, a gym, a storage room, and two en-suite walk-in wardrobes.
The living area will be on the second floor, which will also include a toilette, a bathroom and three bedrooms. There is also a huge cellar with external and internal doors where the owner plans to put a plant room and a wine cellar.
The currently tired green steel fence along the Llandaff Road front is to be replaced by a stone wall. The padlocked metal doors which add to the unsightly appearance will also be swapped for double gates.
The council’s planning committee report concluded: “It is considered that the development would provide a high quality scheme returning a building in a poor state of repair back to beneficial residential use. The proposed use, location, design, access and parking provision are all considered acceptable, along with amenity considerations for neighbouring residents.
“Overall, the scheme would form a significant enhancement to the area and the wider Conway Road Conservation Area. Whilst mature trees would be lost as a result of the proposed development, taking the above into consideration along with the replacement planting proposed, it is considered that, on balance, the overall development would be acceptable.”
A notice at the entrance to the site reads: "Built in 1870, The Cedars is now being restored as a family home. We're sorry for any inconvenience while we do the work - please do bear with us."
Read next:
- Cardiff Castle visitor captures 'what looks like woman with no face' on video as she films empty corridor
- Cardiff car crash: Senedd Member calls on Welsh Government to step in
- Woman given months to live after kidney donor dropped out 24 hours before operation
- Major plans for £300m resort in Wales including UK's longest ski slope formally submitted
.jpg?w=600)
