Did you know that Wales’ tallest building right now isn’t actually in its capital city? It’s 40 miles west in Swansea. But that may not be the case for much longer, as Cardiff is set to get a mighty new 180m high, 50-storey tower. It’ll surpass Swansea’s 107m Meridian Tower to become the highest skyscraper in Wales.
On top of that, the structure will be the UK’s second tallest building outside London, after Manchester’s Deansgate Square South Tower (though it still pales in comparison to the capital’s 310m Shard). Cardiff’s current tallest building is the soon-to-be completed 30-storey skyscraper on Guildford Crescent.
Set to be built on a site between Wood Street and Rose Lane as part of the Central Square development, the brand new tower will look right over Principality Stadium, with the top floor featuring an enclosed glass roof terrace with views across ‘Cardiff and beyond’.
It’ll feature 528 new homes alongside nearly 2,500 metres squared of internal amenity space, including a gym, co-working space, an atrium and storage facilities. Proposals also include a two-storey pavilion with a restaurant and terrace next door, 52 cycle spaces in the adjoining square and extensive landscaping. Apparently, designers were inspired by existing skyscrapers like New York’s Equitable Building, which use a tripartite formation and consist of a clearly defined base, middle and top.
The skyscraper is the brainchild of architect firm 5Plus, alongside Reap 3, a subsidiary of real estate firm Bluecastle Capital. Planning permission was already granted to the site for a slightly smaller 35-storey tower back in 2023, but that never came to fruition as the site was sold by Rightacres Property to Bluecastle Capital last year.
Ed Williams, the CEO of BlueCastle Capital, said: ‘Our vision is to deliver an iconic building that reflects the ambition of the Welsh capital and contributes positively to its skyline, economy and community. We look forward to engaging with residents and stakeholders as part of the planning process to help shape the final design’.
A timeline for approval and completion of the tower hasn’t been set out yet, but we do know that a consultation for the development is open right now and will shut on September 2. Here’s a closer look at the plans.
ICYMI: Inside plans for Cardiff station’s £140 million revamp.
Plus: The £1 billion plans for the ‘Welsh tube’.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.