Thackeray Group has secured planning consent for two further phases of the €117m regeneration of the landmark Howells building in the centre of Cardiff into a mixed-use destination.
Thackeray has been granted permission for phases two and three, which include 61 apartments, the restoration of Bethany Chapel and Sunday School, additional storeys to the Percy Thomas Wharton Street block, and partial demolition of the site's centre to create a new public realm. The first phase relates to The Percy building and provides 2,323m2 of commercial space.
Thackeray plans to submit a planning application in Q3 for a build-to-rent residential development above The Hayes and Trinity Street buildings. A further application for a 120-bed hotel and food and beverage offering at ground floor at The Walter building is expected in Q4.
In addition to the two planning applications, Thackeray intends this year to begin work on stripping buildings to shell and core, asbestos removal and demolition of the centre of the site.
The Howells building is a Grade II*-listed building with a total area of 25,548m2 located in Cardiff's prime shopping district near the St David's Centre, Queen's Arcade, and The Hayes. It is a combination of buildings from different eras ranging from the mid-18th century to the 1960s, and holds great communal significance to the city and its people.
Public realm and connectivity is at the heart of the development. Four new gateways into the site will be created from St Mary Street, Wharton Street, Trinity Street and from Cardiff Market. The intersection of the new routes into the site from each of these gateways creates a new central square, a public piazza with a variety of soft and hard spaces where the uses from the buildings can spill out.
The development has been designed by Welsh architect, Andrew Taylor from Patel Taylor with sustainability at the top of the agenda. The design strategy is built upon the repurposing and retrofit of existing buildings. The extent of the proposed demolition will enable the creation of open spaces which will contribute to delivering a substantial net biodiversity gain.
Giles Hoare Investment Director of Thackeray Group, said: “We have an amazing opportunity to initiate the transformation of Cardiff by creating a new heart to the city. Howells is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to breathe new life into one of Wales’ most iconic assets.”
Antony Alberti CEO and his partner Brett Palos said “Howells will deliver an exceptional mix of uses, new homes, state-of-the-art offices, flagship retail and leisure along with the restoration of a Grade II*listed building and extensive public realm.”
Image provided by TAVISTOCK.
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