Plans to develop a Grade II listed building in the centre of Cardiff into flats and retail space have been approved.
The plans, which will see 12 apartments and a retaining retail space developed on High Street, were approved by Cardiff Council Planning committee on October 28.
The four-storey building comprises of a retail space on the ground floor, a basement and two further storeys which will be transformed into the flats. These are currently empty.
Read more: Developers drop biomass power plant plans in Cardiff to build warehouses instead
These will be made up of nine studio apartments, two one bedroom apartments and one two bedroom apartment. The ground floor retail space - which is currently occupied by Great Welsh Gifts - will be retained and part of the basement area is to be used as refuse and cycle storage.
Set in the city centre, there is a small amount of rooftop space which will allow residents to sit outside.
Developers say that the plans will "bring about local regeneration benefits and will provide a high quality mixed use scheme to the Castle Quarter area of Cardiff."
And they also argue that the apartments will "regenerate" 14 High Street - which is a Grade II listed building which has more than 100-years of history trading as a city centre shop.
Historically, High Street dates back as early as the 17th Century in a key location within the old city boundary walls.
The facade of the building will remain largely unchanged under the new plans. However, a new entrance to the left of the shop front will be installed as a point of entry for the apartments. Evidence of historic plans and photographs shows that there was originally an entrance at this point as there was a cafe on the ground floor, with offices above.
Online resource Cardiff Directories shows that 14 High Street was occupied by a cafe named Dorothy Cafe, which opened from the mid 1890s, and operated until the mid 20th century. Since then, the ground floor has operated as a retail unit, most recently Great Welsh Gifts. Permission has been granted for the ground floor to remain as retail space.
The development is next to High Street Arcade. The arcade is set to undergo huge regeneration soon as a hidden courtyard within the arcades is set to be opened up.
A new entrance would be created through an existing passageway off High Street Arcade to the scheme, which is inspired by projects such as Soho’s Kingly Court, tucked away behind Carnaby Street.
The owner of the Castle Arcade Quarter, Mansford, and Cardiff-based Rio Architects have submitted the plans to Cardiff Council. Documents show the scheme would create four new spaces - designed for independent bars and restaurants around a central, open courtyard. Original features, which are currently hidden, will be "exposed" and a new large balcony running around the first floor has been incorporated into the design as part of the plans to enhance the features of the Grade II listed arcade buildings.
What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments below
