A Cardiff community centre is set to be demolished to make way for a 'community living scheme' which includes 41 flats.
The community hall on Leckwith Road, Canton, will be knocked down and replaced with a new community hall and 41 apartments on top for elderly people.
A planning application to demolish the centre was submitted to Cardiff Council in July last year, with permission being granted on Monday, February 7 for the development to be carried out.
Read all of our latest Cardiff stories here
The development would also mean the loss of the Leckwith Road pay-and-display car park, which would reduce the total number of parking spaces by 65.
Cardiff council's planning committee voted to grant permission for the scheme on December 15 last year.
The new building would be five storeys tall and include 39 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments, as well as 18 parking spaces
Details of the scheme were given in planning documents, which stated: “The new residential building is intended to respond to the Cardiff Older Persons Housing Strategy for more older persons housing that helps residents maintain independence for longer, is flexible to meet needs of more vulnerable users, and helps tackle social isolation.”
The community hall on the ground floor would include a main hall, kitchenette, ‘welfare facilities’, storage and a smaller flexible space.
The plans had previously been criticised for being "too tall", as the surrounding buildings are all two or three storeys high.
In November, Councillor Ramesh Patel, representing Canton, told the planning committee the plans would be “overdevelopment” and too tall for the area.
He said: “Surrounding properties in the area are two or three storeys, and this development is five storeys high. This is completely out of character for the area. This will have a massively negative effect on surrounding properties.”
The scheme is set to include a flexible lounge and activity area along with outdoor space. The community centre will be located on the ground floor with a community garden to the east side.
A private communal garden for residents with seating areas is also set to be part of the development. As part of the plans, the current MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) will be demolished and relocated.
However, councillors have heard concerns that the building will be “completely out of kilter” with the local area.. The loss of car parking has also been raised as an issue in objection comments.
"By creating this proposed redevelopment it will make the parking even worse," one resident wrote in a objection to the planning application.
Another resident wrote that the "sheer size and height of the building (compared to almost all of its near neighbours, with perhaps the exception of St John's church) is problematic."
Sign up to the CardiffOnline newsletter here
