Cardiff: Developers start demolishing parts of Guildford Crescent without the planning permission

Despite not having permission to do so, a developer has started to demolish the much-loved Guilford Crescent terrace in Cardiff.

Cardiff Council said that developers GT Guildford breached their current planning application and went against the council by demolishing parts of the historic buildings.

In 2018, plans to demolish the body of the historic buildings were approved by Cardiff Council.

However, as part of an agreement between the Cardiff Council and the Rapport family who owned the site, it was decided that the original 19th-century curved facades of numbers 1-6 of the street would be saved.

But photos now show that the developers have started to demolish the frontages, against planning permission.

Cardiff Council has confirmed that the developers have been told to cease demolition.

A planning application to demolish the structures was submitted by developers GT Guildford Crescent Limited on 17 August 2023 on the grounds that the facades were no longer structurally safe.

As part of several variations to the already approved plans, the developers have asked to "demolish and re-build the existing Guildford Crescent Facade".

Cardiff Council has said that this new application had not been approved before the company started demolition.

Cardiff Council said: “The developer was formally advised not to proceed with any works that would result in any demolition of the façade until formal approval was obtained, and in response, they advised that construction activity would continue in accordance with the respective permission."

During their application to demolish the structure the developers said: "Given the condition of the existing wall, the extent of works required to the wall and those works required in proximity to the wall results in a genuine concern regarding the stability of the wall during construction.

"We are advised that a partial collapse is a possibility during construction which presents a risk to health and safety."

The surveys allegedly show that key defects identified during the surveys include vegetation growth at the tops of the wall, dislodged masonry at the top of the wall, the rubble fill element being exposed to the elements, the main façade showing extensive cracking in the render among others.

In November 2021, plans for a huge 30-storey apartment tower were approved by the council for the site, with the facades of the former site of music venue Gwdihŵ and two former restaurants, Madeira and Thai House forming the base of the tower.

The tower is located within the wider area to the east of the city centre which is currently being revamped as part of Cardiff’s ‘Canal Quarter’. This includes the reopening of The Dock Feeder Canal on Churchill Way, which starts at Queen Street at the Capitol Shopping Centre.

The demolition of Guildford Crescent has been a controversial topic since it was announced, with hundreds of people taking to the streets of Cardiff in 2019 to oppose the work. 

Some 20,000 people also signed a petition to save the buildings and the businesses on Guildford Crescent.

A Cardiff council spokesperson said: “The Council recently received an application to vary the original planning permission for the site which now proposes demolition and rebuild of the Guildford Crescent façade.

"The application advises that the terrace frontage is now structurally deteriorating and unstable.

“The developer was formally advised not to proceed with any works that would result in any demolition of the façade until formal approval was obtained, and in response they advised that construction activity would continue in accordance with the respective permission.

“Regrettably, the developer has since proceeded to demolish the Guildford Crescent façade, in breach of their current planning permission, and ahead of their current application being considered by the Planning department.

“The developer has been advised to cease all demolition works, and the Council is currently considering the expediency of formal action, which could include measures preventing further development at the site until the matter is resolved.

“The matter will in due course now be reported to Planning Committee, where Members will be advised of the status of the site and will need to consider the merits of the current proposal to rebuild the façade, along with any necessary action required to address the recent breach of planning.”

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