paul-cardiff

May 21, 08 - 9:52 AM

st davids 2 apartments

Looks like we're gonna see some rapid building now all that steel is in place...

Kyle

May 21st, 2008 - 1:18 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

Any chance of anyone posting a latest web cam picture...they are locked down at work so I have to wait until I get home otherwise.

Me

May 21st, 2008 - 1:35 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

try these!

You can quite clearly see the difference in ceiling height between the retail and residential section in the first photo, which is now rising up!

And there's plenty of cladding on show now on the upper parts of JL.

Kyle

May 21st, 2008 - 3:31 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

Thanks. It's a bit locked down here as far as webcams are concerned so thanks for that !

They are certainly progressing well that's for sure.

Kyle

May 21st, 2008 - 4:48 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

They are meant to be handing over the John Lewis store in August of this year aren't they ? That is going to come around very quickly so we will see an externally complete building quite soon if they are on target. The same goes for the library I guess...I'm sure I read somewhere they were actually ahead of target on one of those two buildings.

The main shopping centre is the fascinating one for me. It'll be interesting to watch how high they actually go at each section. If the images are anything to go by on their website I think they will go up to 6/7 storeys at the lowest point, so that's 3/4 storeys on top of the main steelwork and we should get 7 storeys additional around each of the taller concrete cores (and there are five of them I think). They've also got to fit in a decent amount of glass running the length of the grand arcade...but I guess that will go on last ?

I've just been on the website again and I didn't realise how many parking spaces there would be. 2,000 on top of the shopping centre, 550 in the basement of John Lewis and 550 in a new multi-storey on Adam St. How does this Adam St. car park fit in with the two 20 storey tower blocks we've seen ? Are they above the car park or is it a different site on the street ?

Me

May 21st, 2008 - 4:51 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

My guess is that the SD2 website doesnt have the most up to date info.

Andrew

May 21st, 2008 - 6:30 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

3100 new car parking spaces in Cardiff city centre is excessive in my opinion, even if you take away the number that was there before its likely rediculous. Cardiff is way too car oriented a city for its own good, the council should be seeking to reduce the ammount not increase it! Force people onto the trains and buses and improve the services at the same time.

Cambo_Dai

May 21st, 2008 - 7:43 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

Like I've said before.. forcing people on to buses and trains only works if they can't drive somewhere else car friendly. A better retail offering in Newport and maybe signs of something being done in Ponty could erode the catchment area, and we have 'lifestyle' (i.e. includes clothing stores) retail parks in Llantrisant and then theres McArthur Glen down the road. Put simply, you don't increase bus/train use.. you just shift the problem. And you might actually make it worse by making people drive FURTHER to avoid the high parking costs / parking restrictions in the city. If we want to tackle congestion and car use we need a countrywide effort, as an ad-hoc approach in individual towns and cities will tend to just lead to a shuffling about of the problem rather than a solution.

James

May 22nd, 2008 - 2:54 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

I agree with Cambo Dai.

'Forcing'people onto trains may be an admirable enough on paper, but in practice, in the year 2008, it isn't enough. With internet shopping, Macarthur Glen, a new retail area in Leckwith and competition from Newport, Swansea, the Valleys and Bristol, then we must make things as easy as possible for people with regards to transport, and that includes parking.

The good news is that SD2 will provide 500 more parking spaces than Bristol's scheme, as well as our superiour bus network, and our substantially superior rail network, with major stations now 'anchoring' either end of Cardiffs retail area.

Myself, I will always use public transport to get into town. It's so much nicer, easier and less hassle, but I know that by hitting those who prefer to drive/cannot realistically use public transport then the city centre as a whole will suffer.

James

Jun 11th, 2008 - 1:50 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

Website for Hayes Apartments ...

http://www.hayes-apartments.co.uk

James

Jun 11th, 2008 - 1:57 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

Propertymail says:

"Prices are still to be confirmed, but it is anticipated that the studios will start at around £110,000 while 2 bedroom apartments will start in the region of £200,000."

Kyle

Jul 17th, 2008 - 5:41 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

I think it was Jantra that mentioned the rooftop garden on the SD2 apartments, but I can't remember if anyone has posted images of it on here so here goes (apologies if anyone has already)

Also, on the HayesApartments website link posted above they have an alternative view of it on the link below. I can't get at the picture properties to include it in this post sorry.

http://www.hayes-apartments.co.uk/the-apartments

But I could get at the floorplan for one of the apartments. See below.

The terrace isn't a bad size.

Me

Jul 17th, 2008 - 5:46 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

Actually I think the animation on that page is well worth a watch to get a sense of the size of the overall development, in relation to the buildings on the other side of the Hayes.

All the apartments imagery manages to miss out the massive 3000 space car park just the other side of the main arcade though! Should be a great selling point, watching dodgy parking disasters from your luxury rooftop garden...

Alec-Radyr

Jul 18th, 2008 - 12:35 AM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

That is interesting.. the flash animation is defo worth looking at.. this development looks like such a monolith..

it looks ok.. i hope it looks better in the flesh as SD2 is just too big to escape with a mediocre design..

too plain and boxy in my opinion.

Me

Jul 18th, 2008 - 11:45 AM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

I thought the animation made it look good!

Me

Jul 18th, 2008 - 11:56 AM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

But I do wonder the extent to which the car park wil be a skyline feature, it does appear to be higher than some of the apartments in places. I suspect it'll be ok from the North, West and South because of other buildings in the way, but from the East it might be visible from sone distance...

Kyle

Jul 18th, 2008 - 12:49 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

Isn't there an element of social housing in the scheme ? I bet they are putting them at the car park side of the development.

Cambo_Dai

Jul 18th, 2008 - 12:51 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

They are, although it will not face the car park but instead the new Barrack Lane market. It shouldn't be too bad.

Me

Jul 18th, 2008 - 1:43 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

When will we ever see plans for that side of the development! The outside market, the social housing, the new public space.

It's possible that they havent been finalised I guess, and the construction work is much further behind on that side of the build anyway.

Jantra

Jul 18th, 2008 - 1:43 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

can someone help me on this one.

what exactly is social housing...I know each development above 28 units has to have 15% socail housing, but what is it exactly? Is it for key workers, such as teachers, nurses, economists (ok Dai that was a joke) or for housing assocations such as Tai Pawb, L&Q etc

Cambo_Dai

Jul 18th, 2008 - 3:29 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

Social housing is normally built for social landlords who will then rent it at somewhat below market-rates and/or sell it in part-buy/part-rent deals. I don't think it typically includes key worker housing which is something that hasn't really taken off in Wales as in England.

Kyle

Jul 18th, 2008 - 4:20 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

Me, it's half the reason I mentioned it to be honest.

Can you or anyone post a recent webcame picture or two on here so we can see the activity ? I'm not sure if there are any of the 7 storey "towers" at that end of the site.

I've noticed the SD2 homepage has changed. There's this great big "Look" page added. Must be part of the new look website they are due to launch.

Kyle

Jul 18th, 2008 - 4:25 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

...you basically end up being sent to this page. I've just sent an email to them. I bet they don't reply !

http://www.stdavids2.com/look/sign-in

Me

Jul 18th, 2008 - 5:40 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

I'm not quite sure how Paul did it, but the image at the top of this page seems to update all the time, always showing the most recent image of the development. You'll see that this week the next chunk of the arcade roof has been installed.

Here's an equivanlent for the JL end (but it wont update...):

Me

Jul 18th, 2008 - 5:48 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

Was down around the CIA way recently and I got the impression that the untis underneith the cinema were being prepared for future use, so I guess that will mean the new street between JL and SD2 will successfully continue with lively frontages towards th CIA.

Spence

Jul 18th, 2008 - 5:54 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

Hardly exciting news but I noticed in passing today that the temporary banner signs on Park Inn have been replaced with proper ones. A minor improvement but like they say... you can't polish a turd.

Ian, Bridgend

Jul 18th, 2008 - 10:46 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

You really need SOUND as well to get an idea of the constant activity. The clunks bangs rattles reverberating metallic slamming sounds plus the noise of machinery are deafening at times!

Music to the ears to be honest and long may it continue in Cardiff.

Kyle

Jul 19th, 2008 - 12:10 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

Thanks Me. If you look towards the rear of the development there's a core there, so is there another 11 storey block of apartments going on that side ?

Kyle

Jul 19th, 2008 - 12:13 PM

Re: st davids 2 apartments

Forget what I've just posted. Just looked at the top of the page at the forever changing image...there are two that side...how high is the car park going to be again ?

Great progress on the St.Davids side though isn't there ? They are almost up to seven storeys now.

Author	Comment
paul-cardiff May 21, 08 - 9:52 AM	st davids 2 apartments Looks like we're gonna see some rapid building now all that steel is in place...
Kyle May 21st, 2008 - 1:18 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments Any chance of anyone posting a latest web cam picture...they are locked down at work so I have to wait until I get home otherwise.
Me May 21st, 2008 - 1:35 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments try these! You can quite clearly see the difference in ceiling height between the retail and residential section in the first photo, which is now rising up! And there's plenty of cladding on show now on the upper parts of JL.
Kyle May 21st, 2008 - 3:31 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments Thanks. It's a bit locked down here as far as webcams are concerned so thanks for that ! They are certainly progressing well that's for sure.
Kyle May 21st, 2008 - 4:48 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments They are meant to be handing over the John Lewis store in August of this year aren't they ? That is going to come around very quickly so we will see an externally complete building quite soon if they are on target. The same goes for the library I guess...I'm sure I read somewhere they were actually ahead of target on one of those two buildings. The main shopping centre is the fascinating one for me. It'll be interesting to watch how high they actually go at each section. If the images are anything to go by on their website I think they will go up to 6/7 storeys at the lowest point, so that's 3/4 storeys on top of the main steelwork and we should get 7 storeys additional around each of the taller concrete cores (and there are five of them I think). They've also got to fit in a decent amount of glass running the length of the grand arcade...but I guess that will go on last ? I've just been on the website again and I didn't realise how many parking spaces there would be. 2,000 on top of the shopping centre, 550 in the basement of John Lewis and 550 in a new multi-storey on Adam St. How does this Adam St. car park fit in with the two 20 storey tower blocks we've seen ? Are they above the car park or is it a different site on the street ?
Me May 21st, 2008 - 4:51 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments My guess is that the SD2 website doesnt have the most up to date info.
Andrew May 21st, 2008 - 6:30 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments 3100 new car parking spaces in Cardiff city centre is excessive in my opinion, even if you take away the number that was there before its likely rediculous. Cardiff is way too car oriented a city for its own good, the council should be seeking to reduce the ammount not increase it! Force people onto the trains and buses and improve the services at the same time.
Cambo_Dai May 21st, 2008 - 7:43 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments Like I've said before.. forcing people on to buses and trains only works if they can't drive somewhere else car friendly. A better retail offering in Newport and maybe signs of something being done in Ponty could erode the catchment area, and we have 'lifestyle' (i.e. includes clothing stores) retail parks in Llantrisant and then theres McArthur Glen down the road. Put simply, you don't increase bus/train use.. you just shift the problem. And you might actually make it worse by making people drive FURTHER to avoid the high parking costs / parking restrictions in the city. If we want to tackle congestion and car use we need a countrywide effort, as an ad-hoc approach in individual towns and cities will tend to just lead to a shuffling about of the problem rather than a solution.
James May 22nd, 2008 - 2:54 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments I agree with Cambo Dai. 'Forcing'people onto trains may be an admirable enough on paper, but in practice, in the year 2008, it isn't enough. With internet shopping, Macarthur Glen, a new retail area in Leckwith and competition from Newport, Swansea, the Valleys and Bristol, then we must make things as easy as possible for people with regards to transport, and that includes parking. The good news is that SD2 will provide 500 more parking spaces than Bristol's scheme, as well as our superiour bus network, and our substantially superior rail network, with major stations now 'anchoring' either end of Cardiffs retail area. Myself, I will always use public transport to get into town. It's so much nicer, easier and less hassle, but I know that by hitting those who prefer to drive/cannot realistically use public transport then the city centre as a whole will suffer. Email: jat_moore@yahoo.co.uk
James Jun 11th, 2008 - 1:50 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments Website for Hayes Apartments ... http://www.hayes-apartments.co.uk
James Jun 11th, 2008 - 1:57 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments Propertymail says: "Prices are still to be confirmed, but it is anticipated that the studios will start at around £110,000 while 2 bedroom apartments will start in the region of £200,000."
Kyle Jul 17th, 2008 - 5:41 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments I think it was Jantra that mentioned the rooftop garden on the SD2 apartments, but I can't remember if anyone has posted images of it on here so here goes (apologies if anyone has already) Also, on the HayesApartments website link posted above they have an alternative view of it on the link below. I can't get at the picture properties to include it in this post sorry. http://www.hayes-apartments.co.uk/the-apartments But I could get at the floorplan for one of the apartments. See below. The terrace isn't a bad size.
Me Jul 17th, 2008 - 5:46 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments Actually I think the animation on that page is well worth a watch to get a sense of the size of the overall development, in relation to the buildings on the other side of the Hayes. All the apartments imagery manages to miss out the massive 3000 space car park just the other side of the main arcade though! Should be a great selling point, watching dodgy parking disasters from your luxury rooftop garden...
Alec-Radyr Jul 18th, 2008 - 12:35 AM	Re: st davids 2 apartments That is interesting.. the flash animation is defo worth looking at.. this development looks like such a monolith.. it looks ok.. i hope it looks better in the flesh as SD2 is just too big to escape with a mediocre design.. too plain and boxy in my opinion.
Me Jul 18th, 2008 - 11:45 AM	Re: st davids 2 apartments I thought the animation made it look good!
Me Jul 18th, 2008 - 11:56 AM	Re: st davids 2 apartments But I do wonder the extent to which the car park wil be a skyline feature, it does appear to be higher than some of the apartments in places. I suspect it'll be ok from the North, West and South because of other buildings in the way, but from the East it might be visible from sone distance...
Kyle Jul 18th, 2008 - 12:49 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments Isn't there an element of social housing in the scheme ? I bet they are putting them at the car park side of the development.
Cambo_Dai Jul 18th, 2008 - 12:51 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments They are, although it will not face the car park but instead the new Barrack Lane market. It shouldn't be too bad.
Me Jul 18th, 2008 - 1:43 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments When will we ever see plans for that side of the development! The outside market, the social housing, the new public space. It's possible that they havent been finalised I guess, and the construction work is much further behind on that side of the build anyway.
Jantra Jul 18th, 2008 - 1:43 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments can someone help me on this one. what exactly is social housing...I know each development above 28 units has to have 15% socail housing, but what is it exactly? Is it for key workers, such as teachers, nurses, economists (ok Dai that was a joke) or for housing assocations such as Tai Pawb, L&Q etc
Cambo_Dai Jul 18th, 2008 - 3:29 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments Social housing is normally built for social landlords who will then rent it at somewhat below market-rates and/or sell it in part-buy/part-rent deals. I don't think it typically includes key worker housing which is something that hasn't really taken off in Wales as in England.
Kyle Jul 18th, 2008 - 4:20 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments Me, it's half the reason I mentioned it to be honest. Can you or anyone post a recent webcame picture or two on here so we can see the activity ? I'm not sure if there are any of the 7 storey "towers" at that end of the site. I've noticed the SD2 homepage has changed. There's this great big "Look" page added. Must be part of the new look website they are due to launch.
Kyle Jul 18th, 2008 - 4:25 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments ...you basically end up being sent to this page. I've just sent an email to them. I bet they don't reply ! http://www.stdavids2.com/look/sign-in
Me Jul 18th, 2008 - 5:40 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments I'm not quite sure how Paul did it, but the image at the top of this page seems to update all the time, always showing the most recent image of the development. You'll see that this week the next chunk of the arcade roof has been installed. Here's an equivanlent for the JL end (but it wont update...):
Me Jul 18th, 2008 - 5:48 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments Was down around the CIA way recently and I got the impression that the untis underneith the cinema were being prepared for future use, so I guess that will mean the new street between JL and SD2 will successfully continue with lively frontages towards th CIA.
Spence Jul 18th, 2008 - 5:54 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments Hardly exciting news but I noticed in passing today that the temporary banner signs on Park Inn have been replaced with proper ones. A minor improvement but like they say... you can't polish a turd.
Ian, Bridgend Jul 18th, 2008 - 10:46 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments You really need SOUND as well to get an idea of the constant activity. The clunks bangs rattles reverberating metallic slamming sounds plus the noise of machinery are deafening at times! Music to the ears to be honest and long may it continue in Cardiff.
Kyle Jul 19th, 2008 - 12:10 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments Thanks Me. If you look towards the rear of the development there's a core there, so is there another 11 storey block of apartments going on that side ?
Kyle Jul 19th, 2008 - 12:13 PM	Re: st davids 2 apartments Forget what I've just posted. Just looked at the top of the page at the forever changing image...there are two that side...how high is the car park going to be again ? Great progress on the St.Davids side though isn't there ? They are almost up to seven storeys now.