UK: Listed building consent and change of use approval has been granted for an aparthotel at a Victorian era listed building in central Cardiff.
Thackeray Estates is planning to convert the upper floors of the grade II-listed Market Chambers building on St Mary Street to provide an aparthotel of 52 rooms. It is located in the St Mary Street Conservation area and is close to Central Market and Cardiff Central train station, amidst shops, hotels, residential, offices, banks, gyms, bars and restaurants.
No major external alterations will be made to the facades of the existing building except a refurbishment of the existing office entrance door which will be designed to suit the new aparthotel entrance. Proposals for the interiors and other refurbishments include an interior fit-out of the redundant office accommodation and a ground floor cafe.
Giles Hoare, investment director at Thackeray Group, said: “Our investment and confidence in Cardiff goes from strength to strength and the Market Chambers aparthotel consent is another example of this. The scheme will restore another significant heritage asset and help achieve the council’s wider vision along St Mary Street. It was a pleasure working alongside Cardiff Council on another collaborative project.”
The property sits in between Thackeray Group’s recently opened Flight Club and Howells masterplan scheme. The professionals that will be working on this scheme will be John Wotton Architects, Archaeology Wales, Hunter Acoustics and Savills.
Annamaria Sgueglia, senior planner at Savills, said: “The scheme breathes fresh life into a previously under-used commercial building and will deliver an attractive tourism offering that is sympathetic to its architectural significance while supporting the positive regeneration of the wider area.”
