A 27-storey apartment tower could be built just south of Cardiff Central station, pending a planning decision this week.
The tower would stand at 84 metres — taller than any current building in Cardiff — and would include 188 apartments, a two-floor restaurant or shop, and a residents’ gym.
Developers Urban Centric want to build the Crawshay Court tower on Curran Road, opposite the old Brains brewery. Councillors on the planning committee at Cardiff council will decide on Wednesday, June 17, whether to grant permission for the building to go ahead.
The tower would have two roof gardens for residents, one on the 14th floor and the other on the 26th floor.
Only eight car parking spaces would be provided, and 100 cycle parking spaces — but the building is five minutes' walk away from the railway station, and developers said residents could become members of a car club.
In the design and access statement, the developers said: “It will capitalise on the prime hub of the city for public transport, by including a large number of people into a compact area… and increase the opportunity for a lifestyle choice which does not wholly rely on the car.
“The city centre location will allow good walking links to a large number of employment, leisure and amenity opportunities."
The site is currently home to two-storey offices, which developers would demolish. It’s also just 19 metres away from the new Brickworks development, with 102 apartments.
Planners granted permission for a similar scheme two years ago : with 25 storeys and 140 units. But the developers said the council had asked them for too much Section 106 money — to contribute to local infrastructure — leaving the old plans “wanting in financial validity”.
Noise concerns were raised because of how close the apartments would be to the railway station. The council’s noise pollution officer said the developers need to fully assess how loud noise from nearby trains would be, on each floor of the tower.
The tower would be taller than the current tallest building in Cardiff: the Bridge Street Exchange student flats built in 2018, standing at 82 metres and 26 floors. The previous tallest building was the Capital Tower office block, standing at 80 metres and 25 floors.
The tallest building in Wales is in Swansea. The Tower block of flats on Meridian Quay, stands 107 metres tall with 29 floors.
