Plans to convert a historic building in Cardiff into a huge new apartment block have been approved. The Grade II listed Baltic House on Mount Stuart Square in Butetown is currently used as offices but will become housing after planning permission was granted by Cardiff Council.
The site on James Street was formerly the home of the iconic 'My City, My Shirt' mural, dubbed "the Mona Lisa of Butetown", before it was controversially painted over to be replaced by an advert for McDonald's. However, the mural can now be found on the other side of the road after the fast-food chain apologised and ordered it to be repainted.
Proposals to redevelop the early 20th century building and build 60 new apartments were first put to Cardiff council in April 2021, while amended plans were submitted in January and May 2022. One year on, these plans have been approved by the council's planning committee.
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Baltic House will be converted from offices to apartments and given a one-storey rooftop extension while a new-build extension will also be built to the building's rear, fronting James Street. Get the latest Cardiff news and updates sent straight to your inbox for free by signing up to our newsletter.
The redeveloped building will house 29 apartments while the extension will comprise of 31. These apartments will range in size, with 41 one-beds, 17 two-beds and two three-beds planned. With the roof-level extension, Baltic House will be seven storeys in total, including lower ground and ground level, while the new extension will be six storeys.
The proposals include cycle storage and a locker room on the ground floor of the development, as well as two enclosed bin stores. There are also plans for eight parking spaces outside the apartment block, with two of these for residents with reduced mobility.
Concerns were raised when the plans were first submitted to the council, with local residents and business owners questioning the impact that the development would have on surrounding buildings. Brian Gamble, director of operations at the Coal Exchange hotel - which is just metres from the site - said the proposed build would "undoubtedly" affect the amount of daylight reaching the hotel's rooms and entrance.
He wrote: "The hotel rooms will be greatly impacted and it will make those bedrooms significantly darker. The other problem is that many of our weddings which take place at the hotel will be impacted by the reduction of light for photographic opportunities. This will reduce the number of these types of events that we currently do."
A resident of neighbouring Marine House added: "I am a bit confused how you can build a six-storey building in front of another building's balconies and outside space. It's double the size of Marine House and you will be impeding on numerous residents' right to light. We have south facing balconies that now will be facing a six story brick wall.
"I am not opposed to renovating Baltic House, but the new six-storey extension just seems like it will stick out like a sore thumb and will be totally out of place compared to everything else in Mount Stuart Square and James Street."
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