Plans for a landmark 178-metre tower next to Cardiff Central Station and the Principality Stadium have secured planning approval, paving the way for what would become the tallest building in Wales.
The proposed development will replace an earlier approved 35-storey scheme on the same site. The project is being brought forward by REAP 3, a subsidiary of build-to-rent developer BlueCastle Capital.
Located between Wood Street and Rose Lane within Cardiff’s Central Square regeneration district, the new tower will rise to 50 storeys and significantly surpass Swansea’s Meridian Tower, currently Wales’ tallest building at 107 metres.
The scheme will deliver 528 build-to-rent apartments, including 344 one-bedroom and 184 two-bedroom homes. A separate two-storey pavilion building is also planned, providing commercial space expected to house restaurants and other leisure uses.
Developers say the building has been designed to handle large volumes of people, particularly on major event days at the nearby Principality Stadium, where crowds of up to 80,000 can pass through the surrounding area.
The tower will include two staircases and five lifts to support resident access and building safety requirements.
The project forms part of BlueCastle Capital’s wider build-to-rent strategy, with the developer assembling a pipeline of schemes across several UK cities. Across five projects, the company currently has around 2,500 residential units in development.
The Cardiff tower is expected to become one of the most prominent additions to the city’s skyline as the Central Square regeneration programme continues to reshape the area around the main station.
