The charm of the area around Roath Park stems from its architectural heritage and its designation as a conservation area underscores the community's commitment to preserving this character. The planned modern extension to the Church currently occupied by Rainbow Bargain on the corner of Wellfield Road/ Albany Road/ Bangor Street is not only against the guidelines set for the conservation area, but also fundamentally risks altering the cherished historic landscape we all enjoy. The Church’s designation as a listed building illustrates its importance and the need for any development to be sympathetic to this heritage.

Our future home project is under threat from the proposed extension of the grade 2 listed Old Church on Bangor Street. Our property is the Old Church Hall right next door, and we have been carefully restoring our building to blend with the area’s historic character. However, the planned two-story modern extension of the church building threatens to overshadow our home, block our windows and restrict our light, and compromise the conservation area’s historic integrity by the use of unsuitable materials in a historic setting. In short it will stick out like a sore thumb amongst the conservation neighbourhood.

We are not against progress or development, and welcome careful restoration of the structure. However, any alteration must align with the conservation area guidelines and respect the existing architecture. It is essential to find a solution that blends the need to find a suitable new use for the building, while paying homage to listed building status, however the applicants have made no effort to consult with the neighbours and wider community, and have made false statements within their application. The community deserves developments that contribute to, rather than detract from, the area’s character.

We urge the council to deny the application.
We feel there are architectural alternatives that can meet future business requirements without a metal clad extension blocking views of the listed Church and losing the beautiful clerestory windows. Let us come together as a community and voice our objection to this development plan until a more suitable proposal is put forth, without the extension.

Please sign this petition to signal to the council that the conservation area regulation should apply to all equally, and large developers are not exempt from the rules all other residents have to follow.

Your support is much appreciated.

To further help, commenting on the application itself is welcomed. The application is number 26/00051/FUL and full plans can be found by following this link- https://www.cardiffidoxcloud.wales/publicaccess/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=details&keyVal=T8RGS9ECJ5200

Many thanks,

Suzi Dorey and Tom Satchell

As no render of the new extension was submitted in the application, the image of the proposed extension used here has been created as a guide to illustrate what is proposed.