‘Disgrace’: Plans approved to knock down historic Victorian Cardiff pub to build flats
Alex Seabrook, local democracy reporter
Plans have been approved to knock down a Victorian pub on City Road in Roath, in another blow to the city’s historical heritage.
The Roath Park pub is on the corner of City Road and Kincraig Street, and was previously run by SA Brain.
Last year, developers applied for planning permission from Cardiff council to demolish the pub and build a seven-storey block of flats.
They later withdrew that application, and applied instead to demolish it without building anything in its place. The council’s planning department granted permission this week.
The demolition application drew heavy criticism from local residents, and 60 wrote to the council to object.
One said: “This is part of the historical fabric of the city and our identity and it is a disgrace to our generation to allow these beautiful buildings of our community to be destroyed, for what? For the financial gains of faceless corporations who care nothing for this city.”
Another said: “The Roath Park pub is a historic building with a legacy of being a longstanding community hub, both as a pub and as a venue for artistic and creative events. Unless the proposed development intends to retain aspects of this purpose, there is the risk it will be contributing to the ongoing harmful gentrification of our city.”
‘Shame’
City Road has changed a lot over the past few years, with another historic pub being demolished. The Poets Corner, further down the road, was knocked down in 2016 ostensibly to make way for student flats, although these have not yet been built.
The Poets was run by Greene King, who also owned another pub on the other side of Cardiff which shut down at a similar time. The Corporation, on Cowbridge Road, closed in 2018 but has this week reopened as a small market for independent traders, renamed Corp Market.
Several councillors criticised the plans to knock down the Roath Park, including council leader Huw Thomas, who last year tweeted: “It would be a real shame to lose a historic pub like that.”
Labour councillors representing Roath also campaigned to oppose the planning application, ultimately unsuccessfully. One problem is the council’s planning department currently has little power to prevent property owners demolishing historic buildings, like the Roath Park.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Sadly to some our history means nothing. Let’s knock it down attitude and replace it with a cookie-cutter build with no character.
This pub could be saved and repurposed, but that requires vision and money. The money is there, just not the vision.
You need to decide how you want it to be.
Think of all the homes on the site it will generate on the site for youngsters to get on the housing ladder.
Drinking and smoking are dying. No one is going to preserve pubs that don’t make money.
Based on past experience of developers building flats in Cardiff, “Think of all the homes on the site it will generate on the site for youngsters to get on the housing ladder.” that will be a total of approx zero.
Flats for well-paid incomers – quite a few.
Although, in the case of post-Covid, perhaps just lots of empty rooms instead of a thriving community hub?
Sad isn’t it. I think Wales is quite disrespectful to the past. It might have been nice to convert the pub to accommodation but not economically sound. Money talks
That building looks in good order; why demolish it? The energy cost is enormous and unneccesary; just fit out the upper floors as flats. If the pub’s not viable, maybe split it into shop units?
I think everything on City Road should be demolished.
Well come on now, they have to build
More accomodation for our ever
Increasing immigrant population.
Ah, yes. All those rich buggers immigrating from Bristol since they axed the tolls.