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An artist's impression of how the renovated building could look - Img: Unknown - Please Contact |
Plans to convert the Bute Street Station, a Grade II-listed railway
station in Cardiff, into office and retail space have been given the green
light by council planners, causing a furore among those who fear for the
integrity of the historic building and/or object to the proposed aesthetic of
the new renovation and extension.
A number of historical groups are leading the charge against
the plans, citing fears that the renovation and four-storey extension could
cause harm to the building, which was recently included in a list of the 10
most endangered buildings in England and Wales. Despite these objections the
plans were approved, with councillors Frank Jacobsen and Chris Lay among those
expressing their support.
Councillor Frank Jacobsen commented, “I’m glad to see that
someone is taking an interest in this building. I’m glad to see someone throw
money at the old lady. I hope they keep the characteristics of it. It looks
good.”
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The historic building as it stands now - Img: WalesOnline |
On the other side of the argument sits councillors Sean
Driscoll and Ali Ahmed, with Driscoll comparing the design to a multi-storey
carwash and Ahmed simply stating, “I’m absolutely not happy with the
extension.”
Organisations including the Victorian Society and the
Ancient Monuments Society share similar concerns, bringing formal objections before
the council.
In a council report concerning the development, the Ancient
Monuments Society described the design as “rather generic”, stating that it appears
“incongruous and out of place” in the location. The Victorian Society went for
a decidedly more full-on approach, with their lengthy formal objection, as detailed
in the same report, reading as follows:
“We object to the application, which would cause a high
degree of harm to the building and its setting, and because the quality of the
application falls well short of what is required given the station’s II-listing
and the potential impact of the proposals.
“The Bute Road Station is one of the oldest and most
significant railway structures in Wales. It is one the society has long been
concerned about and only last year was included on our list of the 10 most
endangered buildings in England and Wales.
“We object to the proposed extension on a number of grounds.
Firstly, it is too tall. We object also to its architectural treatment, which
is aesthetically jarring, disappointingly banal and fails to convey any sense
of responsiveness or sensitivity to the listed building and its setting.
“What is proposed is little more than a relatively mundane commercial
block crudely tacked on to one of Wales’ most important historic railway
structures. In purely technical terms the application is unacceptably poor.”
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The proposed development shown in more detail - Img: Tony King Architects Ltd |
Despite the high volume of opposition to the planned works,
approval was nonetheless given for two separate applications filed by ABA
Holdings Ltd, one seeking listed building consent and another for full planning
permission. A planning officer justified the decision by telling the committee that
nothing of historical value remains inside the building, which is dilapidated
to the point of floors collapsing and has been regularly occupied by squatters.
Sam Bonson
Sam
is an aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. He is currently
working as a content writer, journalist & editor as he continues to expand
his horizons.
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