Plans to build 45 new apartments in Butetown, Cardiff, have been approved. Cardiff Council has given the go-ahead to the plans which would see an "Older persons community living scheme" and brand new sports hall created.
The six-storey development will be build on the corner of Bute Street and Hannah Street on the former site of Brandon Tool Hire, and will contain 35 one-bed flats and 10 two-bed flats. Planning permission was granted by Cardiff Council on Tuesday, April 12.
The ground floor, as well as containing a sports hall, will have a single guest suite, storage and plant rooms, offices, a medical room, a laundry, a residents lounge, accessible changing and shower facilities and a store for cycle and mobility scooters.
Local campaigner Lyn Eynon said he supported the development, including the sports hall, but highlighted the importance of insulation to prevent noise from the sports hall reaching the flats above. He said: “It is important that internal noise transmission neither disturbs residents nor restricts sports activities.
“It is also uncertain if the proposed sports facility will meet the space requirements of local clubs and groups. That must be explored further with them. It would be disappointing if this facility fell short of expectations.”
He had previously called for the council to include a new cafe on the ground floor, in place of the sports hall, to replace the Paddle Steamer Cafe – a popular community hub which had been closed down to make way for another housing development . A petition with 64 signatures was submitted to the council in December 2021 proposing that a cafe should be built on the ground floor.
The Paddle Steamer Cafe used to be on Loudon Square but last year permission was granted to Cardiff council’s housing department in January 2021 to knock it down and build a block of flats.
Eid Ali Ahmed wrote to the council saying: “There is a need for a cafe with a community hub to meet the needs of the community. There has since been a big gap of facilities for the community, as they are Muslims and don’t go to pubs.”
The developers will now have to provide the council with information including proposed changes to the crossing arrangements at Henry Street, the provision of cycle and car parking spaces, and information about the environmental and noise impact of the development.
