News / gloucester road
Alarm as demolition notices appear around historic former bank
The future of a historic former bank hangs in balance as notices have been attached to nearby cars detailing the building’s imminent demolition.
The A4 pieces of paper state works are scheduled to take place by Cardiff Demolition Co. Ltd. on Monday at 248 Gloucester Road, an empty shell of a building with no windows or roof currently shrouded in plastic but underneath which hides an Edwardian façade.
While planning permission was granted in May 2023 to restore the building on the corner of Gloucester Road and Longmead Avenue and turn it into nine flats with a cafe on the ground floor, the decision to grant permission to demolish the building, applied for by its owner in October, is yet to be settled by the council.
is needed now More than ever
The owner’s applications have triggered a fierce campaign by local residents who are desperate to retain the building’s baroque-style façade, flooding the council’s planning portal with more than 250 objections.
Now they fear time could be up for the landmark building as they say it has been allowed to decay to an extent that there could no other option but to tear the whole thing down, with the new notices now suggesting its owner may go ahead with the demolition without permission.
Notices have been attached to cars detailing the 247 Gloucester Road’s imminent demolition – photo: Emily Koch
The notices read: “We are writing to inform you that Cardiff Demolition have been appointed to act as Principal Contractor to undertake the Demolition of the above premises, therefore we kindly request that site access is kept clear for all demolition related vehicles and heavy plant at all times.”
The applicant for demolishing the building is given as Omid Jalil of J Investment of 62 West Street in St Philip’s.
A revised elevation plan, designed by Warmley-based Nicholas Morley Architects, who have been contacted by Bristol24/7 for comment, was submitted on February 22 which depicts the building with a reduced height from six storeys to five.
The proposed new building is three storeys taller than the former bank – image: Nicholas Morley Architects
Those objecting to the plans raised concerns with the proposed building’s height and scale, lack of parking space for bikes and cars, loss of heritage value and character, the strain on local services and the owner’s “disregard” for the council’s planning policy.
One resident wrote: “It seems clear that the site owner has been playing a game here, reducing the existing fine building to a state where it would not be economically attractive to do anything but demolish and redevelop.”
248 Gloucester Road in 2008 – photo: Google
Recommending the application is refused, conservation consultee City Design Group said: “The scale of harm posed by development is substantial, meaning that all historic and architectural significance would be totally lost through demolition.
“The demolition of the remaining building is not justified as being in the public benefit where existing consents allow for policy-compliant conversion to residential use whilst retaining the historic fabric.
“The current proposal fails to provide a proportionate or contextual response to the predominate scale of the local area, or its character and distinctiveness; in these respects, it would not meet the need to offer beautiful or design-policy compliant development.
“Development would be visually oppressive and overscale.
“No demonstration has been given for the necessity for the loss of the heritage asset as part of development, or its incorporation into an appropriate contextual response to the site.”
The National Provincial & Union Bank in its heyday – image: Know Your Place
248 Gloucester Road – between the Golden Lion pub and Sainsbury’s – was originally the National Provincial & Union Bank before becoming NatWest and was Randstad before becoming vacant for more than a decade during which time it was squatted.
Main photo: Betty Woolerton
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