Cardiff Council has approved plans to convert three grade-II listed villas on Cathedral Road into 15 self-contained flats. Ruperra Holdings Ltd submitted the application in September 2024 for the properties at 17-21 Cathedral Road, which had previously been used as offices.
The proposal treats each of the three properties independently, with work undertaken to undo alterations made for their former office use. All three buildings sit within the Cathedral Road Conservation Area, which carries extra legal protections due to its special architectural, historic or natural character.
Changing demand for office space
An impact statement for the application notes that demand for office or consulting rooms has diminished in recent years, particularly since Covid-19, with more flexible working and a culture of working from home. In contrast, demand for housing, especially among young professionals or retirees downsizing, has increased.
The statement says returning the properties to residential use will have an immediate positive impact on the heritage aspects of the buildings, the Conservation Area and the local community.
Landscaping and parking provision
The space behind the buildings will be landscaped for future residents, with limited parking and space for cycle and motorcycle parking. Each ground floor flat will receive one parking space, with facilities for electric car charging.
Two extensions to the back of the property will be developed to provide more space, with the extensions said to introduce an enhanced architectural quality to the buildings.
Planning approval rationale
Planning documents state there is no longer demand for single occupancy of the large villas, and the rooms will adapt well to separate apartments. The development has the potential to enhance the significance lost while the properties were used as offices.
The officer's report approving the application noted the concern from Economic Development regarding the loss of employment use, but stated the offices are afforded no policy protection, making it unsustainable to justify refusal on that basis.
