Lib Dem councillors welcome decision to reject City Road hotel planning appeal

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 28th Jun 2010

Liberal Democrat councillors for the Plasnewydd ward in the Roath area of Cardiff have welcomed a decision by the Assembly Planning Inspectorate to reject an appeal by developers of a proposed new hotel in City Road. The application for the proposed 93-bedroom hotel at the junction of City Road and St Peters Street had previously been refused by Cardiff Council's planning committee on 16 September 2009.

The Inspector dismissed the appeal by developer, Ardec Properties Limited, on the basis that the proposed building would cause additional harm to the living/working conditions of neighbouring occupiers with particular regard to visual impact, and the provision of daylight and sunlight.

The Inspector also cited concerns about vehicular parking and access. And whilst he stated that subject to the provision of a transport plan he was satisfied that the proposal would not significantly exacerbate existing on-street parking problems, he did note that on-street parking in the area is already subject to considerable pressure and parking by hotel guests would add to this.

Welcoming the verdict, local Liberal Democrat councillor Rodney Berman said: "Whilst many people in the local community would be keen to see this long disused site brought back into a suitable use, many were also concerned that this particular proposal was not appropriate because it was simply trying to cram too large a development onto a constrained site. At the time the application was first submitted to the council, I was contacted by a significant number of residents who expressed such views and I am pleased these concerns have been taken into account."

Fellow Plasnewydd Liberal Democrat councillor Richard Jerrett added: "Lots of people were particularly concerned that the plan was to only provide nine off-street parking spaces. This would clearly cause problems in the surrounding area with hotel guests looking to park in nearby residential streets where it is already very difficult to park. Whilst the Inspector didn't fully accept all the arguments we put forward about this issue, he did accept that a hotel of this size would add to existing problems in the area. I welcome the fact he took this into account in deciding to dismiss the appeal."