Demolition of former market in Cardiff among plans to improve the city

A major new sixth form college site, the demolition of a popular former market and new independent living flats on the site of a community centre are some of plans for Cardiff that were recently approved.

Plans to reopen popular Cardiff bar, Porter’s, at a new location in the city centre have also been approved by the council.

The approval will see the bar move from its existing home at Harlech Court, Bute Terrace, which will be demolished to make way for a 35-storey tower block.

Here is a look at the stand out planning applications that were given the go ahead this week.

Butetown

The historic Merchant Place and Corys buildings in Butetown which have been empty for over 20 years will be restored as part of plans to develop a new home for Cardiff Sixth Form College.

The development, which will form the teaching space of a wider sixth form college campus project, also includes plans for a new eight-storey build which will include an auditorium, science labs, classrooms and an exhibition space.

A separate planning application will be lodged for the proposed development of boarding accommodation on Pierhead Street.

Plans to erect a statue depicting three Welsh rugby league legends in Cardiff Bay have also been approved.

The statue, which will be located at Landsea Square, Mermaid Quay, will feature Billy Boston, Clive Sullivan and Gus Risman and honour the Cardiff Bay Codebreakers – 13 players who grew up within a three-mile radius of Cardiff Bay.

Many of them battled prejudice and racism before leaving Wales to make their mark as Rugby League players in the North of England.

Splott

Plans to demolish the former Splott Market in Cardiff have been given the go ahead, potentially paving the way for a new school on the site.

Cardiff Council’s planning committee’s approval of the application will also mean the demolition of the Lewis Road Studios on the opposite side of Lewis Road to Splott Market.

The site has been earmarked for the proposed new Willows High School, which will be subject to a separate planning application.

Plans to knock down Moorland Community Centre on Moorland Road, Splott, to make way for independent living flats have also been given the go ahead.

The three to four storey build will include a replacement community centre on the ground floor.

The 13 older persons’ apartments will be located above.

City centre

Plans to reopen popular Cardiff bar, Porter’s, at a new location have been approved.

The application for 46-48 Charles Street proposes to turn the basement into a theatre space and part of the ground floor and first floor into a café which will turn into a bar and live music space in the evening.

A covering letter attached to the planning application states: “This will be a replacement premises for Porter’s which has traded since 2012 and will continue to be an entertainment led venue, aimed predominantly at the students, professionals and admirers of music, theatre, film, TV and art.

“The proposed premises is a former nightclub and has a peculiar layout forming part of 46-48 Charles Street.

“The ground and first floor areas propose to operate as rehearsal, meeting and café space in the day, switching to a space for performance of live music and occasional performances of comedy/cabaret/film screenings with bar in the evenings.

“The basement will operate as a small 100 capacity theatre space with scope to accommodate similar cultural activity. Entry and egress will be primarily via Barrack Lane.”